ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan will introduce presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally Monday evening at the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo, Ryan revealed during a news conference Monday afternoon.

Ryan stopped short of endorsing Trump in the upcoming New York state Republican primary Tuesday.

"I'm gonna introduce him, that's a true statement," Ryan said. "But I'm not gonna say who my endorsement is and all that stuff.

"I will say this: [New Jersey governor and former presidential candidate] Chris Christie was my guy, 100 percent because we were the lap-banded brothers. We both had that lap-band [surgery], and we really are pretty close."

In a statement, the Bills said they do not endorse political candidates: "It is a personal decision by Rex to introduce Donald Trump at this evening’s rally. The Bills organization does not endorse political candidates, and so he is not representing the organization at tonight’s event."

Trump submitted a bid to purchase the Bills following the death of founding owner Ralph Wilson in 2014, but the business magnate was outbid by current Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who bought the team for $1.4 billion.