Sarah Cole and Gage Caldwell, who met in high school, had their first date at a Bills game
Credit: WIVBTV/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- A football-loving couple, Sarah Cole and Gage Caldwell, got engaged at the Buffalo Bills’ home opener in the team’s new stadium
- The two, who met in high school, had their second date at a Bills game
- They said any Bills players are welcome to attend their 2028 wedding
For Sarah Cole and Gage Caldwell, the Buffalo Bills have always been at the heart of their love story.
The couple, who began dating a year and a half ago, told local outlet WIVB that they have spent much of their relationship cheering on their favorite NFL team together.
“A lot of our dates have been circled around going to Bills games,” Cole said, adding, “Actually, our second date was at a Bills game.”
Caldwell shares season tickets with his brother, and when he learned that his sibling wouldn’t be able to attend the Bills’ home opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 17, the pieces began to fall into place for the perfect proposal plan.
“My brother and I share the tickets, and he wasn’t able to make it, so I immediately figured that [Sarah] would be the one taking his spot,” Caldwell said. “I knew it was going to be here at the stadium.”
Credit: Kevin Sabitus/Getty
Back on June 23, the Bills celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for their long-awaited new stadium in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, N.Y. The $2.2-billion Highmark Stadium hosted its very first game on Sept. 17, making the timing perfect for Caldwell to pop the question to his girlfriend.
While Caldwell secretly planned his surprise proposal, Cole already had a suspicion that the moment might be coming.
“I had a thought that maybe it could happen,” she told WIVB. “How cool would it be to get engaged at the first home opener at the new Highmark Stadium?”
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Caldwell’s carefully laid plans almost went awry, however, when the engagement ring set off the metal detector when the pair were going through security to enter the stadium. Thankfully, the workers had Caldwell’s back.
“The guys at security, they were like the best wingmen I could have asked for,” he said. “Once they saw the diamond, they were like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re good, man. You’re good.’ ”
When they got to their section, Caldwell made his move and asked Cole to marry him in the stands.
“When it happened, I blacked out, and I couldn’t even remember if I said yes,” the bride-to-be recalled. “I was just so happy.”
Making the occasion even sweeter, the Bills pulled off a thrilling 41-31 win against the Lions, with quarterback Josh Allen delivering five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing).
Caldwell and Cole plan to celebrate their wedding in the summer of 2028 — and they say Bills players are welcome to join them.
“I have to extend the invitation to the Bills players — you know, whoever can make it,” Caldwell told WIVB.
Caldwell and Cole weren’t the only couple who were lucky in love at the Buffalo team’s home opener. During a pre-game tailgate, a man proposed to his girlfriend as loved ones and fellow fans cheered and popped confetti, per a video shared by ABC News.
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