Buffalo Bills Tickets

The history of the Buffalo Bills is summed up in the name of their home field, Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Wilson was awarded an American Football League franchise in 1959 and has owned the Bills since then. The Bills have had a steady parade of marquee players and have been in the playoffs but they haven't won a championship since they claimed the next-to-last AFL title in 1965. The greatest success-and frustration-came during coach Mary Levy's 12-year stay from 1986-97. Levy led the team to four consecutive Super Bowls and the Bills lost all of them.

Much of the success the Bills have enjoyed has come under three coaches-Lou Saban, Chuck Knox and Levy.

Saban led the team to consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and '65, then left the Bills. After just missing a third title (and a berth on the first Super Bowl), the Bills declined, posting a 13-55-2 record over five seasons.

Saban came back to Buffalo and designed an offense to showcase the talents of running back O.J. Simpson. A coaching change midway through the 1976 season again sunk the Bills until Knox led them to a divisional title in 1980. Buffalo again endured tough times that ended shortly after Levy took control of the team.

Levy's teams won the AFC East title five times in six years and set a record by qualifying for the Super Bowl in four consecutive seasons.

The stars of the Bills' AFL days included quarterback Jack Kemp and running back Cookie Gilchrist. Simpson dominated in the 70s and Levy's teams were keyed on offense by quarterback Jim Kelly and running back Thurman Thomas, as well as defensive end Bruce Smith.

The Bills are one northern team that has decided to stay outdoors, despite the sometimes severe weather that hits western New York in winter.

Following a 6-10 season in 2003, the Bills replaced head coach Gregg Williams with Mike Mularkey, who had been Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator.

BUFFALO BILLS FACTS AND INFORMATION

1959 - Ralph C. Wilson was awarded an American Football League franchise on October 28.
1960 - The Bills lost their first regular season game to the New York Titans, 27-3 on September 11.
1962 - The Bills had their first winning season, finishing 7-6-1.
1962 - Cookie Gilchrist ran for 1,096 yards, becoming the first Bills player to run for 1,000 yards.
1963 - Buffalo made its first playoff appearance, losing 26-8 to the Boston Patriots on December 28.
1964 - A 20-7 victory over San Diego in the AFL Championship Game gave the Bills their first title.
1965 - The Bills again defeated San Diego to take the AFL championship.
1969 - Buffalo made running back O.J. Simpson of USC the first player chosen in the draft.
1973 - Simpson set an NFL record by rushing for 2,003 yards.
1986 - Mary Levy took over as head coach, replacing Hank Bullough.
1991 - The Bills made their first Super Bowl appearance and lost 20-19 to the New York Giants when Scott Norwood's attempt at a game-winning field goal from 47 yards was wide right.