After earning UFL Championship MVP honors, Ian Wheeler is looking to turn that success into a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills.
Ian Wheeler has already proven he can make an impact on a football field. Now, he's trying to prove he belongs back in the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills running back enters training camp with a unique path compared to many of his teammates. After going undrafted out of Howard in 2024 and spending time looking for his next opportunity, Wheeler found his chance in the United Football League, where he became one of the league’s standout players.
Wheeler helped lead the Louisville Kings to a UFL Championship and earned MVP honors in the United Bowl, putting himself back on the NFL radar in the process.
Now back in an NFL training camp, Wheeler is competing for a roster spot in a crowded Bills running back room. While the challenge ahead is significant, he has already made an impression on the players around him.
One advantage Wheeler has in Buffalo is familiarity. Before joining the Bills, he spent time with the Chicago Bears, where he crossed paths with wide receiver DJ Moore. When Wheeler joined Buffalo after his UFL season ended, Moore immediately knew what type of player the Bills were adding.
"It was funny; we were watching Ian on TV, and then I guess when the season ended for them in the UFL, we picked him up, and I was like, dang, I already know Ian," Moore said. "Ian's a good football player. He's fast, he's intelligent, and he's just going to hit the ground running."
That familiarity has helped Wheeler transition into a new environment, but he is also earning respect from his new teammates through his approach.
Bills running back James Cook said Wheeler has quickly shown a willingness to learn and put in the work.
"Quiet guy, you know, come in and work and just taking all the information in, and learning, and going out there, and doing his best to be on the team," Cook said.
For Wheeler, the goal is simple: take advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
The UFL gave him a platform to showcase his abilities. He showed signs of being ready for a contract with 370 yards and six touchdowns this year. Once he got to the playoffs, he stepped up more with his championship performance—10 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown—helping earn him another chance in the NFL.
Now, he is competing against established players and trying to show the Bills he can contribute.
Buffalo already has one of the NFL’s best running backs in Cook, but the team continues to evaluate its depth behind him. Despite having Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, and Frank Gore Jr. in the locker room behind Cook, Wheeler has the opportunity to make a name for himself and carve out a role with the team
The road back to the NFL has not been straightforward for Wheeler, but his UFL success put him in a position to get another shot. With the Bills, he now has the opportunity to turn that momentum into a permanent NFL role.
