- 1960
- 1970
- 1970
- 1973
- 1990 - 1993
- 2014
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Buffalo Bills Team Formation
The Buffalo Bills were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the AAFC Buffalo Bills, the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. The AAFC Bills franchise was named after the Buffalo Bills a popular barbershop quartet, whose name was a play on the name ... -
Drafting O.J. Simpson
Simpson was drafted by the AFL’s Buffalo Bills, who got the first pick in the 1969 AFL-NFL Common Draft after finishing 1–12–1 in 1968. Before the 1969 season, the Bills drafted running back O. J. Simpson, who would become the face of the franchise through the 1970s. The NFL-AFL merger placed Buffalo in the AFC East division with the Patriots, ... -
NFL-AFL Merger
The NFL-AFL merger placed Buffalo in the AFC East division with the Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, and Colts. Their first season in the NFL saw the team win only three games, lose ten, and tie one. In 1971, not only did the Bills finish in sole possession of the NFL’s worst overall record at 1–13, but they also scored the fewest ... -
Rich Stadium Opens
War Memorial Stadium was in severe need of replacement, being in poor condition and too small to meet the NFL’s post-1969 requirement that all stadiums seat at least 50,000. Construction began on a new stadium in the suburbs after Ralph Wilson threatened to move the team to another city; at one point after the 1970 season, Wilson was “prepared to ... -
4 Losing Super Bowls
1990 In 1990, the Bills switched to a no-huddle, hurry-up offense (frequently with Kelly in the shotgun formation, the “K-gun”, named for tight-end Keith McKeller), and it led The Bills’ offense to one of the best in the league; their 428 points (26.75 points per game) scored was first in the league. The team finished 13–3 and won a close ... -
Wilson Pass the Torch
Owner Ralph Wilson died March 25, 2014, at the age of 95. Wilson’s assets, including the team, were placed into a trust governed by four members: Wilson’s widow, Mary Wilson; his niece, Mary Owen; Jeff Littman, the Bills’ chief financial officer; and Eugene Driker, an attorney. The trust sold the team to Buffalo Sabres owner Terrence Pegula, along with his ...
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays their home games at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills are the only NFL team that plays its home games in the state of New York (the New York Giants and New York Jets play at MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey). The Bills conduct summer training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, New York, an eastern suburb of Rochester, New York.
Established
1960
City
Buffalo
League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1969 / American Football League
Team History
1960 - Present / Buffalo Bills
Nickname
Bills - The nickname refers to William F. Cody, who was known as “Buffalo Bill.” Buffalo had a football team called the Bisons, but the city’s minor league baseball and hockey teams had the same name. The football team held a contest to select a new nickname following the 1946 season. More than 4,500 entries were submitted and Bills beat out Bullets, Nickels and Blue Devils.
Championship
Super Bowl 0
AFL Championships 2
1965, 1964
Stadium
2020 - Present / Bills Stadium
2016 - 2020 / New Era Field
1999 - 2016 / Ralph Wilson Stadium
1973 - 1998 / Rich Stadium
1960 - 1972 / War Memorial Stadium
Owner
2014 - Present / Terry and Kim Pegula
2014 / Estate of Ralph Wilson
1960 - 2014 / Ralph Wilson
Retired Number
12 / Jim Kelly
34 / Thurman Thomas
78 / Bruce Smith
*Blue is this team’s history