When the Buffalo Bills take the field for the 2019 season, they’ll do so without the support of their biggest fan – Pancho Billa. But, through the fan base and the organization, his spirit will live on.

Take one look at the Buffalo Bills heading into the 2019 NFL season and it’s hard not to consider them among of the league’s up and coming franchises. Believe or not, Bills Mafia could soon be breaking tables and shotgunning beers in celebration rather than ease the pain.

With Buffalo finally ending their 20 year playoff drought following their wild card appearance in the 2017 NFL Playoffs, a brighter sun has began to burn in Orchard Park. Bills general manager Brandon Beane sacrificed a pair of second round selections to move five spots in the 2018 NFL Draft to select his franchise quarterback in Wyoming’s Josh Allen.

So far, the trade has looked strong in favor of Beane’s track record.

Although Allen’s rookie year was filled with overthrown balls, poor decision-making and another double-digit losing season at New Era Field, the highly-touted prospect displayed leadership skills along with his physical and mental toughness to become the face of the Bills offense moving forward.

Much like the Chicago Bears in 2018, Beane built around his quarterback to find success in his sophomore season. With the additions of wide receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown along with a revamped offensive line including center Mitch Morse, offensive tackle Tye Neshke and utility offensive lineman Cody Ford, Allen should be better prepared for the coming season.

Add in first-round pick Ed Oliver as the immediate replacement for Kyle Williams on the defensive line. Now, the Bills could be just a season away to playing a contender role for the future.

There will be an empty feeling at home

And yet, somehow the Bills will enter Week 3 for their first home game with a loss. This loss won’t be found on the field through an injury. It won’t be from a key player hanging up the cleats for the last time.

Instead, as players enter the field and look up into the stands, a familiar face, dressed as the Luchador of the North, will no longer greet his boys with the infectious smile that beamed across his face.

Ezra Castro was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, nearly 2,000 miles away from where his favorite football team called home. Born into the home of Dallas Cowboys fans, Castro’s fandom for the AFC East underdogs was born thanks to his love of the colors red, white and blue.

Even when moving to Dallas, closer to his father’s favorite team, Castro stayed loyal to Bills Mafia. There, he would cheer when the team would go to four straight Super Bowls and swallowing defeat when each year, another team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

Pancho Billa is born

Over the years, Castro embraced his Latin culture, collecting Bills colored costume pieces while donning a luchador mask and a sombrero along with countless other accessories to add to his superhero-esque alter ego.

Before one knew it, the legend Pancho Billa was born. And on Tuesday morning, the figure who brought joy to players and Bills fans across the country gave one final lesson before departing this world.

Football to some might be game; to others, it’s family.

“Our hearts are broken as we have lost our dear brother Ezra “Pancho Billa” this morning,” his family said in a statement. “We are thankful and forever grateful for all the love and support during this journey. Ezra was surrounded by family and loved ones. At this time we ask for privacy as we mourn our loss.”

Castro was 39-years-old, just 17 days shy of his 40th birthday. That’s when his long battle with spinal cancer came to a close. Right now, some will only consider this a loss to the Bills community. But eventually, the NFL world will mourn the loss of one of the game’s all-time super fans.

Plain and simple; Pancho was, and still is the reason why players love the game they play on Sunday’s in the fall.

The diagnosis

Castro was initially diagnosed in 2017 with Stage IV metastatic adenocarcinoma. This is better known as lung cancer that spreads beyond the lungs. Castro was not a smoker, never drank or touched drugs over the course of his life. Instead, he found his solstice in the form of the Bills.

Yet, sometimes those who choose the clean path for their health suffer the most. But throughout the process of chemotherapy and hope that news would one day turn in his favor, he had a duty to uphold; supporting his Bills come Sunday afternoon.

“Some people love to go fishing, hunting or collect art or Michael Jordan shoes,” Castro said to players last season. “My hobby is the Buffalo Bills. That’s what I do. I save money year-round just to see you guys as much as I can.”

Thanks to friends, colleagues and his BillsMafia family surrounding the Buffalo area, news of Castro and the legend of Pancho Billa began to spread. Soon, it became hard for Beane and the Bills staff to ignore the smile that made the most of his days while undergoing treatment.

And on a Friday evening in Dallas last April, Pancho would be introduced to the world and begin a lifelong friendship with a future standout player. Called onto the stage by Bills’ legends Andre Reed and Fred Jackson, he would be the first to welcome defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to Buffalo.

“When they go back and talk about the Jim Kelly’s and those banners that are behind me, they’re also going to talk about the type of person and fan and what Pancho did for our organization,” Phillips said in an interview following Castro’s passing.

Making the call for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Draft

Even when entering hospice care at MD Anderson in Houston last month, Castro never lost faith. Still fighting and believing that his spirit could overcome the odds, perhaps sport’s biggest fan displayed exactly what it means to be a Bill.

Castro was expected to be in Nashville to represent the Bills again. Instead, sitting in his hospital bed, Beane and the Pegula family made sure he was still included. They did this by allowing him the chance to tell representatives that the Bills would select Oliver. Phillips remained on the phone’s FaceTime throughout the process.

Castro would later be FaceTimed in by former Bills defensive back Coy Wire for the third round selection of running back Devin Singletary, greeted by the sounds of thousands, thanking and wishing him the best heading into his final days.

Following his first trip to Buffalo, the Houston product returned home to great his new team’s biggest fan. This season, he’ll be wearing a “Pancho Power” bracelet in honor of Casto’s memory.

A mortician by trade, Castro was surrounded by death long before his time came to an end. Engulfed in the world of mourning and tragedy, he never feared the end. Instead, he spoke of death as if it was just another part of the conversation.

According to WFAA’s Jonah Javad, Castro once told him that he “was not afraid of dying, but more afraid not to live.”

Well, he did just that.

Pancho Billa’s Legacy

And while he’s gone, the spirit of Pancho Billa will never die. He’s found in the face of his long-time girlfriend, Veronica and his two small children, Gino and Lulu. He can be found in New Era Field’s fan wall of fame. There, he will be forever immortalized as one of the biggest influences in Bills history.

Pancho Billa can be found inside the halls of the Bills training facility. Many players and coaches have already taken time to share fond memories of their favorite luchador. He can be found through the hearts of many on social media. There, fans are thanking him for the lessons learned and moments shared over the course of his journey.

And every Sunday among the BillsMafia, cheering “Viva Los Bills” when the hometown heroes find the end zone. Football to some might be a game. But in Buffalo, it’s a family stronger than some of our own flesh and blood.

Football can be an escape from the cold world some people live in. It can be an outlet from a rough week at work or even problems found at home. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Cowboys fan or an AFC East rival of the Bills. It’s safe to say that Castro would have shown you nothing but kindness hidden beneath his alter-ego.

A true representation of the Buffalo Bills culture

But those in Buffalo could perhaps say it best. Castro defined what it means to be a Buffalo Bill, even if he never called the Nickel City home.

“BillsMafia members and people from all over the world, they’re the inspiration to me,” Castro said in an interview last year. “They’re the ones that keep me going. They’re just like my immediate family. They keep me going. They mean everything to me.”

Well, Pancho, you meant more to football than you will ever know. This season, it’ll be easy to root your Bills, because you made it easy.

Rest easy football’s greatest fan. Forever and always Viva Los Bills.