A Buffalo Bills superfan is going to the Super Bowl.
Jill Prince, of Allegany, N.Y., appeared on “Wheel of Fortune” Friday night for the championship round of the game show’s “NFL Superfan Tournament.” She competed as a member of Bills Mafia against fans of other NFL teams.
Prince is a third grade teacher at Allegany-Limestone Elementary in Western New York. She loves her job, but outside of work her passion is the Bills. She said her grandma was a Bills fan and would watch the games with the entire family every Sunday. Her favorite thing about being part of the Bills Mafia is the sense of community, according to her show bio.
Prince won Tuesday’s episode, scoring $65,698 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Portugal and Spain. She was one of the three biggest winners from the first four nights of this week’s NFL Superfan Tournament, so she was invited to return Friday for a chance at more money, plus a grand prize of a VIP experience at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
She won Friday’s episode, adding $56,298 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Alaska and two tickets to the Super Bowl on Sunday. She was declared the NFL Superfan Champion and took home a total of $136,386 in cash and prizes.
Buffalo Bills "superfan" Jill Prince of Allegany, N.Y., appears on "Wheel of Fortune" Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Carol Kaelson/Wheel of Fortune®/© 2024 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR)Carol Kaelson/Wheel of Fortune®/© 2024 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR
Prince said she always wanted to be on “Wheel of Fortune,” and was encouraged by her kids to finally apply for the show. Before winning, she said she would like to use the prize money travel with her kids and eventually return to school and get a master’s degree.
The game show, hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, features contestants spinning the Wheel and solving puzzles for a chance to win cash, cars, and trips. Sajak is retiring in the spring after 41 seasons, and Ryan Seacrest has been tapped to replace him alongside White.
Fans can submit applications to become a contestant at wheeloffortune.com/join/be-a-contestant. In virtual auditions, potential contestants can show off their puzzle-solving skills and potentially be selected to appear an the show from the comfort of their own homes.
“Wheel of Fortune” airs weeknights at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse area on Fox 68 WSYT, and at 7 p.m. on WIVB Channel 4 in the Buffalo area.