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EspañolBUFFALO BILLS
The 'Buffalo Bills' are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo, New York, metropolitan area, playing their home games in the suburb of Orchard Park. They are currently members of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills began competitive play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.
The Bills won two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965, but the club has not won a championship since the merger. Buffalo is also the first and only team to win four consecutive American Football Conference Championships, though they failed to win any of the subsequent Super Bowls.
The Bills are named after Buffalo Bill Cody, the winning entry in a local contest. The Bills' cheerleaders are known as the Buffalo Jills. The official mascot is Billy Buffalo.
The Bills conduct summer training camp at Saint John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY.
They are currently the only NFL team to play their home games within New York State. Both the New York Jets and the New York Giants play in the suburb of East Rutherford, New Jersey outside of New York City.
Franchise history
The AFL years
When Lamar Hunt announced formation of the American Football League in the summer of 1959, Detroit Lions minority owner Ralph Wilson decided to field a team in the new league. After being turned down in his effort to put a team in Miami, he next turned to Buffalo. This effort was successful, and he sent Hunt a telegram with the now-famous words, "Count me in with Buffalo."
After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. On October 28, 1959; the Buffalo Bills officially became the 8th member of the AFL.
On August 8, 1961, the Bills were the first (and only) American Football League team to lose to a Canadian Football League team, the nearby Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The score of the game was 38-21 in favor of the home team.[1]
During the 1960s, the team won AFL championships in both 1964 and 1965 and were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three consecutive years, and the only AFL team to play in the post-season for four straight years, 1963 through 1966.
In the AFL, a predominantly offensive league, the Bills were a great defensive team. In 1964, the defense allowed Buffalo to become the first American Football League team to win 13 games in a season (including the league championship game). During that year, they allowed just 913 yards rushing on 300 attempts during the regular season, a pro football record. The same defense registered fifty quarterback sacks, a team record that stands today, even though it was established in a 14-game season. The 1964 defense also allowed only four touchdowns rushing all season, and started a string that would extend into the 1965 season: seventeen straight games without allowing an opponent to score a rushing touchdown. Eight members of the 1964 squad were on that year's AFL Eastern Division All-Star Team, including cornerback Butch Byrd. Three were eventually named to the American Football League's All-Time Team, and six to the second team. The only professional football player ever inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, without ever playing in the NFL, was a member of the 1964 Bills; guard Billy Shaw.
In addition to their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as fullback Cookie Gilchrist, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick. Tragedy struck the Bills when Bob Kalsu, an offensive lineman, quit the team after his 1968 rookie season to serve in the Vietnam War, where he was killed in action in 1970.
1970s-early 1980s
Before the 1969 season, the Bills drafted running back O.J. Simpson, who would become the face of the franchise through the 1970s. The Bills became part of the NFL when the latter absorbed the AFL in a merger in 1970. Then in 1973, Joe Ferguson became their new quarterback, Simpson recorded a 2,000-yard season and was voted NFL MVP, and the team had its first winning record since 1966. The "Electric Company" of Simpson, Jim Braxton, Paul Seymour, and Joe DeLamielleure as recounted in the locally-recorded hit "Turn on the Juice", lead a dramatic turnaround on the field. The "Electric Company" was the offensive line (OG Reggie McKenzie, OT Dave Foley, C Mike Montler, OG Joe DeLamielleure and OT Donnie Green) which provided the electricity for the "Juice". The team made the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1974, but lost in the first round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buffalo would not reach the playoffs again until 1980. They beat the archrival Miami Dolphins for the first time in 11 years in their season opener, en route to winning their first AFC East title. The following season they lost their AFC East title to the Dolphins, but won their first NFL playoff game (over the New York Jets). They lost in the second round to the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Mid-1980s-1997: Jim Kelly and the "K-gun"
In the 1983 draft the Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly as their replacement to an aging Joe Ferguson, but Kelly decided to play in the upstart United States Football League instead. Meanwhile, the team finished with 2-14 record in 1984 and 1985. Kelly would eventually join the Bills for the 1986 season after the USFL's demise. Then midway through the 1986 season, the Bills fired coach Hank Bullough and replaced him with Marv Levy, the former head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Levy, along with general manager Bill Polian put together a receiving game featuring Andre Reed, a defense led by first-overall draft pick Bruce Smith, and a top-flight offensive line, led by center Kent Hull along with Jim Ritcher, Will Wolford and Howard "House" Ballard.
In 1988, the rookie season of running back Thurman Thomas, the Bills went 12 – 4 and finished atop the AFC East for the first of four consecutive seasons. Two years later, the Bills switched to a hurry-up offense, (frequently with Kelly in the shotgun formation, known as the "K-gun," although the K-gun was named for tight end Keith McKeller) and it started one of the most successful runs in NFL history. The team finished 13 – 3 and blew out the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders (51-3) in the playoffs on their way to Super Bowl XXV.
The Bills steamrolled through the 1991 regular season as well, finishing 13 – 3 again and with Thurman Thomas winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. They also had an easy time with the Kansas City Chiefs in their first playoff game and beat the Denver Broncos in a defensive struggle in the AFC Championship.
The Bills lost the 1992 AFC East title to the Miami Dolphins and Jim Kelly was injured in the final game of the regular season. Backup quarterback Frank Reich started their wild card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, and they were down 35 – 3 early in the third quarter. Undaunted, the Bills scored touchdowns on several consecutive possessions to tie the game and force overtime. Steve Christie kicked the game-winning field goal in the extra session to cap the biggest comeback in NFL history, 41 – 38. They then handily defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff and upset the archrival Dolphins in the AFC Championship to advance to their third straight Super Bowl. Don Beebe's rundown and strip of Leon Lett after Lett had returned a fumble inside the Bills' 5 and was on his way to scoring. Lett started celebrating too early and held the ball out long enough for Beebe, who had made up a considerable distance to get to Lett, to knock it out of his hand.
The Bills won the AFC East championship in 1993 with a 12 – 4 record, and again won playoff games against the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a rematch with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994 .
During this period Steve Tasker established himself year in and year out as the league's top special teams performer.
In 1995 Buffalo, with free agent linebacker Bryce Paup anchoring the defense, again made the playoffs with a 10 – 6 record, and defeated Miami in the wild card round. They would not get a chance to get back to the Super Bowl — the Pittsburgh Steelers, who went on to advance to the Super Bowl, beat Buffalo in the divisional playoffs 40-21.
In 1996 the Bills saw their commanding lead in the AFC East race disappear to a surging New England Patriots team. They still made the playoffs, but as a wild card — and the first victim of the Cinderella Jacksonville Jaguars, the first visiting team ever to win a playoff game in Buffalo. Jim Kelly retired after the season, signaling an end to the most successful era in Bills history. Thurman Thomas gave way to new running back Antowain Smith. Kelly's loss was felt in 1997, with the Bills stumbling to 6 – 10. Coach Marv Levy retired after the season.
1998 – present
The Bills, under new coach Wade Phillips signed two quarterbacks for the 1998 season, one that Buffalo traded a high first round pick for, and one that was signed as almost an afterthought. The former was for Jaguars backup Rob Johnson and the latter was former Heisman Trophy winner and Canadian Football League star Doug Flutie. Despite many Bills fans wanting Flutie to get the starting job after Flutie looked the better of the two QBs in camp and in preseason, Phillips named Johnson to the position. The Bills stumbled to begin the season, and after Johnson suffered a rib injury against the Indianapolis Colts, Flutie came in and led the Bills to a playoff spot and a 10 – 6 record. They faltered in their first playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, although Eric Moulds set a playoff record for most receiving yards in a game with 240.
Flutie's popularity continued into the 1999 season, with the Bills finishing 11 – 5, two games behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC East standings. Wade Phillips gave Rob Johnson the starting quarterback job in the first round playoff game against the Tennessee Titans even though Flutie had won 10 games and had gotten the Bills into the playoffs. The Bills scored a field goal with 16 seconds left to give them a 16 – 15 lead. But the Titans won the game on a controversial play that became to be known as the Music City Miracle: During the ensuing kickoff, Frank Wycheck lateraled the ball to Kevin Dyson who then scored the winning touchdown. Although Wycheck's pass was close to an illegal forward lateral, replays were ruled inconclusive and the call on the field was upheld as a touchdown. [1] The Titans went on to advance to the Super Bowl.
The final ties to the Bills' Super Bowl years were severed in 2000, when Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith were all cut. Antowain Smith, Eric Moulds, and Marcellus Wiley respectively had long since eclipsed them on the depth chart. After an 8 – 8 season, and the team still caught up in the Johnson vs. Flutie controversy, general manager John Butler departed for the San Diego Chargers — and took Flutie and Wiley with him. Doug Flutie left the Bills with a .677 winning percentage in 31 starts. Antowain Smith also left as a free agent for the New England Patriots, where he was the starting running back on their first two Super Bowl championship teams. Both Flutie and Smith were dominant in their final game as Bills, in a 42-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas would be quickly replaced by rookie Travis Henry.
Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over as head coach for the 2001 season, which proved to be the worst in recent memory for the Bills. Rob Johnson went down in mid-season with an injury and Alex Van Pelt took over. Buffalo finished 3 – 13. The Bills even lost a much-hyped mid-season match up with "Bills West" (the Flutie-led Chargers). After the season they traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, deemed expendable by the Patriots after Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl victory.
Bledsoe revived the Bills for the 2002 season, leading them to an 8 – 8 record, setting 10 team passing records in the process. However, in a tough division with all other teams finishing 9 – 7, they were still in last place. Another Patriots castoff, safety Lawyer Milloy, joined the Bills days before the 2003 season began and gave the team an immediate boost on defense. However, the Bills stumbled through the season, finishing 6 – 10 and costing Gregg Williams' his job. Mike Mularkey was then hired as head coach, and the team drafted another quarterback, J.P. Losman.
Bledsoe did continue to struggle in 2004. The Bills started the 2004 season 0 – 4, with Bledsoe and his offense struggling in their run-first offense, averaging only 13 points per game. The team finally managed to turn things around with the emergence of Willis McGahee (a first round-pick and a gamble by the Bills due to the knee injury that McGahee suffered in his last college game) taking over the starting running back role from the injured Travis Henry, and emergence of Lee Evans. The Bills went 9 – 2 in their next eleven games, and allowed the Bills to be in the hunt for a final AFC wildcard playoff spot. Though they would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the season, costing them a playoff berth, the late season surge gave the team a positive direction to approach 2005.
The Bills released quarterback Drew Bledsoe and named Losman as the starter. But the team began the 2005 season at 1-3, prompting Kelly Holcomb to replace him. Losman would not see action again until Holcomb was injured in Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo's 2005 campaign eventually resulted in a 5-11 record and the firing of General Manager Tom Donahoe in January 2006. Marv Levy was rehired by the Bills to become Donahoe's replacement, with hopes that he would improve a franchise that failed to make the playoffs during Donahoe's tenure. That same month, Mike Mularkey resigned as head coach, citing family reasons along with disagreement over the direction of the organization. Dick Jauron was hired as his replacement.
Season-by-season records
Logos and uniforms
When the Bills began playing in 1960, the team's colors were light blue, white, and silver. The team wore blue jerseys with gray numbers and white jerseys with blue numbers. The helmets were all silver with blue numbers on the side.
In 1962, the standing red bison was designated as the logo and took its place on a white helmet. [2] In 1962, the team's colors also changed to red, white, and blue. The team switched to blue jerseys with red and white stripes on the shoulders. the helmets weere white with a red center stripe. [3] By 1965, red and blue center stripes were put on the helmets. [4]
In 1974, the standing bison logo was replaced by a blue charging one with a red slanting stripe streaming from its horn. Ten years later, the color of their helmets were switched to red. Then in 2002, a darker shade of blue was introduced, along with red and white pipe trimming on the jerseys in pants. The original shades or red and blue, however, were contained as striping colors. They are also still used on their logos.
Since 2005, the Bills have used the 1960s uniforms as the team's alternate jerseys.
Fight songs
★ 1988 – pres. "Buffalo Bills Shout" – Buffalo Bills All-Stars
★ 1994 – 1995. "Go Bills!" – Marv Levy (unofficial)
★ 1980 – 1987. "Talkin' Proud" – Alden Schutte
Players of note
Current roster
Pro Football Hall of Fame
'Inductees'
★ 1985 - O.J. Simpson
★ 1999 - Billy Shaw
★ 2001 - Marv Levy
★ 2002 - Jim Kelly
★ 2003 - Joe Delamielleure
★ 2003 - James Lofton
★ -went in as a member of the Green Bay Packers
★ 2007 - Thurman Thomas
Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame
'Inductees'
★ 1980 - O.J. Simpson
★ 1984 - Jack Kemp
★ 1985 - Patrick J. McGroder
★ 1987 - Tom Sestak
★ 1988 - Billy Shaw
★ 1989 - Ralph C. Wilson Jr.
★ 1992 - The 12th Man
★ 1993 - Elbert Dubenion
★ 1994 - Mike Stratton
★ 1995 - Joe Ferguson
★ 1996 - Marv Levy
★ 1997 - Joe Delamielleure
★ 1998 - Robert James
★ 1999 - Edward Abramoski
★ 2000 - Bob Kalsu
★ 2000 - George Saimes
★ 2001 - Jim Kelly
★ 2001 - Fred Smerlas
★ 2002 - Kent Hull
★ 2003 - Darryl Talley
★ 2004 - Jim Ritcher
★ 2005 - Thurman Thomas
★ 2006 - Andre Reed
★ 2007 - Steve Tasker
Retired numbers
★ 12 Jim Kelly, QB, 1986-96
'Unofficially retired'
★ 32 O.J. Simpson, RB, 1969-77
★ 34 Thurman Thomas, RB, 1988-99
★ 78 Bruce Smith, DE, 1985-99 ''(although guard Ruben Brown used 78 as his practice jersey; he wore 79 on the field)''
Since the earliest days of the team, the number 31 was not supposed to be issued to any player. The Bills had stationery and various other team merchandise showing a running player wearing that number, and it was not supposed to represent any specific person, but the 'spirit of the team.' The tradition was broken in 1969 when reserve running back Preston Ridlehuber was issued number 31 for one game while his normal number 36 jersey was repaired by equipment manager Tony Marchitte. The number 31 was not issued again until 1990 when first round draft choice James (JD) Williams wore it for the entire season. The number has since been released for use by any player.
Other notable alumni
★ Sam Adams ★ Don Beebe ★ Cornelius Bennett ★ Drew Bledsoe ★ Jim Braxton ★ Monty Brown ★ Ruben Brown ★ Bob Chandler ★ Steve Christie ★ Nate Clements ★ Shane Conlan ★ Al Cowlings ★ Joe Cribbs ★ Kenneth Davis ★ Joe Devlin | ★ London Fletcher-Baker ★ Doug Flutie ★ Cookie Gilchrist ★ Phil Hansen ★ Jim Haslett ★ Travis Henry ★ Kelly Holcomb ★ Kent Hull ★ Henry Jones ★ Mark Kelso ★ Frank Lewis ★ James Lofton ★ Paul Maguire ★ Willis McGahee ★ Reggie McKenzie | ★ Lawyer Milloy ★ Mike Montler ★ Eric Moulds ★ Scott Norwood ★ Nate Odomes ★ Bryce Paup ★ Lou Piccone ★ Andre Reed ★ Frank Reich ★ Isiah Robertson ★ Takeo Spikes ★ Steve Tasker ★ Thurman Thomas ★ Phil Villapiano ★ Ted Washington | ★ Sherman White ★ Marcellus Wiley ★ Pat Williams |
All-time first round draft picks
'1960’s' [2]
| Year | Player | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Richie Lucas | Penn State | Quarterback |
| 1961 | Ken Rice, 1st Overall | Auburn | Tackle |
| 1963 | Dave Behrman | Michigan State | Center |
| 1964 | Carl Eller | Minnesota | Defensive End |
| 1965 | Jim Davidson | Ohio State | Tackle |
| 1966 | Mike Dennis | Mississippi | Running Back |
| 1967 | John Pitts | Arizona State | Safety |
| 1968 | Haven Moses | San Diego State | Wide Receiver |
| 1969 | O.J. Simpson, 1st Overall | Southern California | Running Back |
'1970’s' 2
| Year | Player | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Al Cowlings | Southern California | Defensive Tackle |
| 1971 | J.D. Hill | Arizona State | Wide Receiver |
| 1972 | Walt Patulski, 1st Overall | Notre Dame | Defensive End |
| 1973 | Paul Seymour | Michigan | Tight End |
| 1973 | Joe DeLamielleure | Michigan State | Guard |
| 1974 | Reuben Gant | Oklahoma State | Tight End |
| 1975 | Tom Ruud | Nebraska | Linebacker |
| 1976 | Mario Clark | Oregon | Defensive Back |
| 1977 | Phil Dokes | Oklahoma State | Defensive Tackle |
| 1978 | Terry Miller | Oklahoma State | Running Back |
| 1979 | Tom Cousineau, 1st Overall | Ohio State | Linebacker |
| 1979 | Jerry Butler | Clemson | Wide Receiver |
'1980’s' 2
| Year | Player | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Jim Ritcher | North Carolina State | Center |
| 1981 | Booker Moore | Penn State | Running Back |
| 1982 | Perry Tuttle | Clemson | Wide Receiver |
| 1983 | Tony Hunter | Notre Dame | Tight End |
| 1983 | Jim Kelly | Miami (FL) | Quarterback |
| 1984 | Greg Bell | Notre Dame | Running Back |
| 1985 | Bruce Smith, 1st Overall | Virginia Tech | Defensive End |
| 1985 | Derrick Burroughs | Memphis State | Defensive Back |
| 1986 | Ronnie Harmon | Iowa | Running Back |
| 1986 | Will Wolford | Vanderbilt | Tackle |
| 1987 | Shane Conlan | Penn State | Linebacker |
| 1988 | No 1st Rd Pick, Thurman Thomas (2nd Round) | Oklahoma State | Running Back |
| 1989 | No 1st Rd Pick, Don Beebe (3rd Round) | Chadron, Nebraska | Wide Receiver |
'1990’s' 2
| Year | Player | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | James Williams | Fresno State | Defensive Back |
| 1991 | Henry Jones | Illinois | Defensive Back |
| 1992 | John Fina | Arizona | Tackle |
| 1993 | Thomas Smith | North Carolina | Defensive Back |
| 1994 | Jeff Burris | Notre Dame | Defensive Back |
| 1995 | Ruben Brown | Pittsburgh | Guard |
| 1996 | Eric Moulds | Mississippi State | Wide Receiver |
| 1997 | Antowain Smith | Houston | Running Back |
| 1998 | No 1st Rd Pick, Sam Cowart (2nd Round) | Florida State | Linebacker |
| 1999 | Antoine Winfield | Ohio State | Defensive Back |
'2000’s'
| Year | Player | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Erik Flowers | Arizona State | Defensive End |
| 2001 | Nate Clements | Ohio State | Defensive Back |
| 2002 | Mike Williams | Texas | Tackle |
| 2003 | Willis McGahee | Miami (FL) | Running Back |
| 2004 | Lee Evans | Wisconsin | Wide Receiver |
| 2004 | J.P. Losman | Tulane | Quarterback |
| 2005 | No 1st Round Pick, Roscoe Parrish (2nd Round) | Miami (FL) | Wide Receiver |
| 2006 | Donte Whitner | Ohio State | Safety |
| 2006 | John McCargo | North Carolina State | Defensive Tackle |
| 2007 | Marshawn Lynch | California | Running Back |
Coaches of note
Head coaches
★ Buster Ramsey (1960 – 61)
★ Lou Saban (1962 – 65, 72-76)
★ Joe Collier (1966 – 68)
★ Harvey Johnson (1968, 71))
★ John Rauch (1969 – 70)
★ Jim Ringo (1976 – 77)
★ Chuck Knox (1978 – 82)
★ Kay Stephenson (1983-85)
★ Hank Bullough (1985-86)
★ Marv Levy (1986-97)
★ Wade Phillips (1998-2000)
★ Gregg Williams (2001-03)
★ Mike Mularkey (2004-05)
★ Dick Jauron (2006-present)
Current staff
Buffalo Bills firsts
★ First 1,000 yard rushing season: Cookie Gilchrist, 1,096 yards, 1962
★ First 200 Yard Rushing Game: Cookie Gilchrist, 243 yards, vs. New York Jets, December 8, 1963
★ First 400 Yard Passing Game: Joe Ferguson, 419 yards, vs. Miami Dolphins, October 9, 1983
★ First 1,000 Yard Receiving Season: Elbert Dubenion, 1,139 yards, 1964
★ First 250 Yard Receiving Game: Jerry Butler, 255 yards, vs. New York Jets, September 23, 1979
★ First 2,000 Combined Net Yards Season: O.J. Simpson, 2,003 net yards, 1973
★ First 300 Combined Net Yards in one game, O.J. Simpson, 303 yards, vs. New York Jets, October 4, 1970
[3]
Radio and television
As of 2006, the Bills' flagship station on radio was WGRF 96.9FM, with games also available on WEDG 103.3FM. John Murphy is the team's current play-by-play announcer; he was a Color commentator alongside and eventually replaced longtime voice Van Miller after Miller's retirement at the end of the 2003 NFL season. During preseason, most games are televised on WKBW channel 7 (ABC), with several other affiliates in western New York.
Notes and references
1. NFL International Results from ''NFL.com''.
2. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Edited by Randall Liu, pp. 393, Workman Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2
3. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Edited by Randall Liu, pp. 436 – 443, Workman Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2
See also
★ History of the Buffalo Bills (Greater depth)
★ List of American Football League players
★ Buffalo Bills seasons
External links
★ Buffalo Bills - Official Site
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