Buffalo Bills
The
Buffalo Bills are a
National Football League team based in
Buffalo, New York.
- Founded: 1960 (charter member of the American Football League; joined NFL in 1970 merger)
- Home stadium: 1960 - 1972: War Memorial Stadium; 1973 - Present: Ralph Wilson Stadium (formerly Rich Stadium)
- Uniform colors: 1960 - 1961: Light blue and white; 1962 - Present: Red, white and blue
- Helmet design: 1960 - 1961: Silver with blue side numerals; 1962 - 1964: White with red center stripe and red standing bison; 1965 - 1973: White with red and blue center stripes and red standing bison; 1975 - 1983: White with red and blue center stripes and blue charging bison with a red slanting stripe streaming from its horn; 1984 - Present: Red with blue center stripes and blue charging bison as before.
- League Championships won: AFL 1964, 1965
- AFC championships won: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- Super Bowl victories: none
Franchise history
In the American Football League, a predominantly offensive league, the
Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs,
Mike Stratton, and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day,
Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway, and
Ron McDole, the Bills defense did not allow a rushing touchdown for seventeen straight games over a period of the 1964 and 1965 seasons.
The Bills won AFL championships in both of those seasons, 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 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.
Pro Football Hall of Famers:
- Joe Delamielleure
- Jim Kelly
- Marv Levy
- Billy Shaw
- O. J. Simpson
Current stars:
- Sam Adams
- Drew Bledsoe
- Lawyer Milloy
- Eric Moulds
- Travis Henry
- Takeo Spikes
Retired numbers:
(No retired jersey numbers; players and contributors on the Bills' "Wall of Fame")
- Joe Delamielleure
- Elbert Dubenion
- Joe Ferguson
- Kent Hull
- Robert James
- Bob Kalsu
- Jim Kelly
- Jack Kemp
- George Saimes
- Tom Sestak
- Billy Shaw
- O. J. Simpson
- Fred Smerlas
- Mike Stratton
- Darryl Talley
- Eddie Abramowski (Trainer)
- Patrick J. McGroder (Vice President)
- Marv Levy (Head Coach)
- Ralph C. Wilson Jr (Founder)
- The 12th Man (Fans)
Not to be forgotten:
- Cornelius Bennett
- Butch Byrd
- Wray Carlton
- Tom Day
- Jim Dunaway
- Booker Edgerson
- Cookie Gilchrist
- Phil Hansen
- Doug Flutie
- Daryle Lamonica
- Paul Maguire
- Ron McDole
- Andre Reed
- Bruce Smith
- Steve Tasker
- Thurman Thomas
- John Tracey
- Ernie Warlick
Buffalo Bills official web site