Levi Wallace ‘Excited’, Looking Forward to Return to Buffalo
PITTSBURGH — Levi Wallace is ready for his homecoming. The now-Steelers cornerback spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills as their primary cornerback next to Tre White in a secondary that gave teams fits. It was not just that connection that gave Wallace the love for Buffalo.
Playing there for years, Wallace grew to admire the fans of Buffalo, known as the ‘Bills Mafia’. Wallace started from the outset of his first season as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama. He was not one of the flashiest players coming out, but he proved himself to be quite the find. Now, Wallace is excited to compete against the same franchise that gave him his first opportunity in the NFL.
“It’s going to be fun, man,” Wallace said. “Buffalo is always a fun place to play. I’ve never seen the visitors’ locker room before, so that’ll be interesting. I’m looking forward to it and the challenge. Listen, I know it, that’s a hostile environment. I might hear some boos, and that will be cool, too. I love playing there. It will be my first time on the opposing team, but I’m excited. I can’t wait.”
Wallace knows everyone in the locker room from head coach Sean McDermott to Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs, He knows the fans and the city about as well as anybody. Still, even though Wallace left and decided to not return to Buffalo, there is no chip on his shoulder to go out there and do anything more. For Wallace, this is a business trip to his former team, but he never felt slighted by the Bills, even during his exit.
“It’s just business, man,” Wallace said. “They did what they thought was best, and I did the best for me, too. I could’ve went there and go back, but I decided to move on. I’m here trying to win games in Pittsburgh, now. That’s my main focus at this point.”
With 52 starts under his belt in Buffalo, Wallace came to Pittsburgh in pursuit of another opportunity. So, he signed a 2-year, $8 million contract with the Steelers to compete for plenty of playing time. He will be the starter, just like he has been so many other times in Buffalo, on Sunday. Wallace may see a friend and now a new opponent in Stefon Diggs, but he has overcome challenges before. So, Wallace is ready to get after it.
“There’s a ton of work I put in throughout the week,” Wallace said. “I don’t take no for an answer in this league. I don’t let people put limitations on me. I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
So, with the Steelers as 14-point underdogs, it will be up to Wallace and the Steelers to come in and shock the world. The defense and secondary will be a massive part of that if Pittsburgh can somehow pull off the stunning upset over the BIlls.
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