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Dion Dawkins enters year 10 as the Buffalo Bills’ left tackle, but more importantly, his ninth campaign is protecting quarterback Josh Allen’s blindside.
But Dawkins’ job description isn’t the epitome of “block everything that tries to get into your pocket” situation. Allen, the 2025 NFL MVP, is the cause.
Allen makes highlight plays every week with his ability to keep plays alive that should result in a sack, forcing his way down the field, sometimes running from sideline to sideline, just to gain positive yardage.
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Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
It’s thankless most of the time, but Dawkins and his teammates are running around trying to help Allen at the same time. So how exactly does Dawkins feel heading into his ninth year with Allen as the man under center?
“People think playing for Josh Allen is the best thing in the world — it sucks. OK? It absolutely sucks,” Dawkins told PK Press Club Digital at Fanatics Fest after navigating an off-road obstacle course outside the Javits Center in New York as part of the Polaris and Call of Duty activation for the fan event.
Obviously Dawkins is being very sarcastic here, but that’s the type of relationship these two share. It’s not just about being teammates, it’s a brotherhood.
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Dawkins, two years older, plays the role of protective big brother, which also means cracking jokes.
“Josh is here and there and you need to know where he is at all times,” he continued. “But the best thing about having Josh, when you’ve been playing with him for so long – it’s not that I gave birth to Josh. But I gave birth to Josh. I was in there with Tyrod Taylor and then here comes Josh. So knowing how Josh moves and how he flows, it’s been great.
“It’s a gift and a curse because you don’t know where he is. But what I always say, it’s more of a gift than a curse. Sometimes you don’t know where he is, but Josh will get you out of trouble more than we put him in, and I appreciate that.”
Josh Allen and Dion Dawkins visit the TNF on Prime postgame show after an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY on September 18, 2025. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The entire city of Buffalo appreciates the hustle, determination and sometimes acrobatics it takes for Allen to do the things he is known for on the football field.
At the same time, Dawkins is one of the best in the NFL at what he does, which makes Allen’s life a lot easier. Dawkins won his fifth straight Pro Bowl last year, but he’ll tell you like the rest of the Bills team: They’re not satisfied until the Vince Lombardi Trophy is in their hands.
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To achieve this, the combination of Allen and Dawkins is essential – even if the latter can’t stand the extra cardio the former puts him through.
Hit the road with Polaris and Call of Duty
Right across the street from the Javits Center, Polaris, the American automaker, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 created an off-road obstacle course that Fanatics Fest attendees could navigate throughout the four-day event this weekend.
Dawkins got his first taste of the experience aboard a Polaris RZR, which will be featured in the latest edition of the video game franchise when it releases in October.
Dawkins, a car enthusiast himself, loved every second of the obstacle course and even let out a scream when the driver took him over a hill at the end.
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“If there had just been more weather, we really would have gone flying,” Dawkins said with a laugh.
The experience made Dawkins want to get into his own vehicle.
“I already told them I need three because we can all be out in the woods in Buffalo, in Big Indian, going crazy,” Dawkins said. “It holds and grips so well – no problem. I just want to see it through puddles, ponds and when it gets really wet and really soft on the ground below. Click on four-wheel drive and get this thing moving.”
