Buffalo Bills Team History

Buffalo Bills, professional football team and one of five teams in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Bills play at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York, and wear uniforms of royal blue, scarlet, and white. The team was named by the organization’s first president, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., after American scout, guide, and showman William Frederick Cody, who was known as Buffalo Bill for his ability to kill buffalo.The Bills built powerful teams in both the now-defunct American Football League (AFL) and the NFL. The team won consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965 with teams that starred running back Cookie Gilchrist and quarterback Jack Kemp. During the 1970s Bills running back O. J. Simpson became one of the most prolific rushers in professional football history, breaking nearly every NFL rushing record. Buffalo appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991 through 1994 with teams starring linebacker Cornelius Bennett, quarterback Jim Kelly, defensive end Bruce Smith, and running back Thurman Thomas.

Buffalo Bills Franchise Information

Franchise Granted: October 28 1959
First Season: 1960
Franchise History:
    1960 - 1969 Buffalo Bills (AFL)
    1970 - Present Buffalo Bills (NFL)

Buffalo’s team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946 was the Bisons. In 1947 a contest was held to rename the team, which was owned by James Breuil of the Frontier Oil Company. The winning entry suggested Bills, reflecting on the famous western frontiersman, Buffalo Bill Cody. Carrying the “frontier” theme further, the winning contestant further offered that the team was being supported by Frontier Oil and was “opening a new frontier in sports in Western New York.” When Buffalo joined the new American Football League in 1960, the name of the city’s earlier pro football entry was adopted.

Buffalo Bills - Stadium

Ralph Wilson Stadium One Bills Drive Orchard Park, NY 14127 Surface Artificial turf Seating 75,339 Opened Aug. 17, 1973 Phone 716-648-1800 Tenants:    Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills Chronological History

1960 - Buffalo became a charter member of the AFL

1969 - After posting the AFL’s worst record in 1968, the Bills used their number-one pick in the 1969 AFL draft to select O. J. Simpson. A year later, Buffalo joined the NFL when the AFL and NFL completed their merger.

1988 - the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game for the first time since joining the NFL. Buffalo’s Eastern Division title was the first of five that the team captured from 1988 to 1993.

1991 - Bills fans establish a new single season in-stadium NFL record of 635,889, breaking their own mark they set in 1988.

1991 - Super Bowl XXV Lost to New York Giants, 20-19

1992 - Super Bowl XXVI Lost to Washington Redskins, 37-24

1993 - Super Bowl XXVII Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 52-17

1994 - Super Bowl XXVIII Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 30-13

1998 - Bills and state officially sign the stadium lease agreement that will keep the Bills in Western New York for 15 the next years and also announce the venue in Orchard Park has been re-named Ralph Wilson Stadium.

1999 - Bills defeat New England to record their 100th win in the 1990s, making them just the 6th NFL franchise ever to do so. The win was part of a successful regular season that saw Buffalo go 11-5 and finish second in the AFC East. Buffalo finished the decade with an AFC best record of 103-57. The Bills defense sets several team records and finishes as the #1 unit in the NFL despite not having any Pro Bowlers.