History of Buffalo Bills in Timeline
The Buffalo Bills, a professional American football team, are based in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area. They compete in the NFL's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The Bills play their home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
1918: Tommy Hughitt Joins Buffalo
Tommy Hughitt joined the Buffalo football team, then a part of the New York Pro Football League, as a player-coach in 1918. He reportedly wore the number 1 and went on to achieve significant on-field success, becoming a prominent figure in Buffalo even after his retirement.
1924: Tommy Hughitt Retires
Tommy Hughitt retired from playing for Buffalo in 1924, concluding his successful stint with the team.
1929: Dissolution of the Buffalo All-Americans (formerly Bisons)
The Buffalo All-Americans, previously known as the Bisons, ceased to exist in 1929, leaving Buffalo without an NFL team for a period of time.
1959: Establishment of the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were established in 1959 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).
1960: AFL Founded
The American Football League (AFL) was founded in 1960, with the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans (then the Houston Oilers) as two of its original clubs. This marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between the two teams.
1960: Buffalo Bills begin playing in the American Football League
The Buffalo Bills embarked on their journey in the American Football League, playing their first games in 1960.
1960: Buffalo Bills' inaugural season in the American Football League
The Buffalo Bills kicked off their inaugural season as a charter member of the American Football League in 1960.
1962: Buffalo Bills introduce new logo and colors
In 1962, the Buffalo Bills adopted a standing red bison as their new logo, which was featured on their white helmets. The team's colors also changed to red, white, and blue.
1964: Buffalo Bills' first AFL Championship
The Buffalo Bills clinched their first American Football League Championship in 1964.
1964: Buffalo Bills update their jersey design
The Buffalo Bills made changes to their jersey design in 1964, replacing the shoulder stripes with a unique pattern of four stripes on the sleeves.
1964: First AFL title for the Buffalo Bills under coach Lou Saban
With Lou Saban as their coach and Jack Kemp at quarterback, the Buffalo Bills secured their first American Football League title in 1964.
1965: Buffalo Bills add center stripes to their helmets
In 1965, the Buffalo Bills added red and blue center stripes to their helmets.
1965: Buffalo Bills' second consecutive AFL Championship
The Buffalo Bills secured their second consecutive American Football League Championship in 1965.
1965: Second consecutive AFL championship for the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills, led by coach Lou Saban and quarterback Jack Kemp, achieved their second consecutive American Football League championship in 1965.
1966: Chiefs Triumph in First Super Bowl
The Kansas City Chiefs emerged victorious in the 1966 AFL Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, determining the AFL's representative in Super Bowl I against the Green Bay Packers.
1966: Dolphins Join the AFL
The Miami Dolphins joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team in 1966, marking the beginning of the Bills-Dolphins rivalry.
1967: Buffalo Jills Founded
The Buffalo Jills, the Buffalo Bills' cheerleading squad, were founded in 1967.
1969: Number 31 Worn Once
In 1969, the Buffalo Bills' number 31, intended to represent the "spirit of the team," was worn for the first and only time in three decades when reserve running back Preston Ridlehuber had to switch out his damaged jersey.
1969: End of Buffalo Bills' era in the American Football League
The Buffalo Bills' time in the American Football League came to an end in 1969.
1970: Buffalo Bills join the NFL
As a result of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Buffalo Bills became part of the National Football League.
1970: Buffalo Bills' entry into the NFL
In 1970, the Buffalo Bills joined the NFL following the AFL-NFL merger.
1970: Buffalo Bills join the National Football League
The Buffalo Bills joined the National Football League in 1970 following the AFL-NFL merger.
1971: Jack Kemp's Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Two years after his playing career ended, former Bills quarterback Jack Kemp was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Western New York in 1971, where he served for almost two decades.
1973: Buffalo Bills introduce blue pants to their uniform
The Buffalo Bills introduced blue pants as part of their uniform in 1973, pairing them with their white jerseys. This was also the last year they used the standing buffalo helmet.
1974: Buffalo Bills retain the charging royal blue bison logo
Despite exploring other options, the Buffalo Bills decided to retain the charging royal blue bison logo with a red streak, white horn, and eyeball that was originally adopted in 1974.
1974: Buffalo Bills change helmet face mask color to blue
The Buffalo Bills changed the color of their helmet face mask from its previous iteration to blue in 1974.
1974: Buffalo Bills introduce new charging bison logo
The Buffalo Bills replaced their standing bison logo with a new, dynamic logo designed by Stevens Wright in 1974. The new emblem featured a blue charging bison with a red slanting stripe extending from its horn.
1975: Buffalo Bills' previous uniform era ends
This year marks the end of the uniform era that was revived in 2011.
1979: Ed Rutkowski's Election as Erie County Executive
In 1979, Ed Rutkowski, Kemp's backup quarterback during their time with the Bills, was elected as the county executive of Erie County.
1981: Bills Victorious in Playoff Matchup
The Buffalo Bills secured a victory against the New York Jets in a 1981 playoff game.
1982: Introduction and Discontinuation of the Whammy Weenie
In 1982, a local grocery store introduced the Whammy Weenie, a maraca-like hot dog-shaped device, painted green, intended for Bills fans to shake at the team's opponents. However, Bills owner Ralph Wilson ordered the Whammy Weenie to be discontinued due to its suggestive nature and the team's disappointing season.
April 27, 1984: Silver Anniversary Team Announced
The Buffalo Bills celebrated their 25th anniversary on April 27, 1984, by announcing their Silver Anniversary team, honoring the franchise's best players over its first 25 years.
1984: Jets Move to New Jersey
Despite representing New York, the Jets relocated their games to East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1984.
1984: John Murphy Begins Career as Color Commentator
John Murphy joined the Buffalo Bills Radio Network in 1984, starting his long tenure as the color commentator for the team's games.
1984: Buffalo Bills change helmet color to red
The Buffalo Bills changed the shell color of their helmets from white to red in 1984, a move initiated by head coach Kay Stephenson. The primary reason for this change was to help quarterback Joe Ferguson differentiate his teammates from opponents, as many teams at the time, including their division rivals, wore white helmets.
1985: Buffalo Jills Become Independent
After 18 years as the official cheerleading squad for the Buffalo Bills, the Jills transitioned into an independent organization in 1985. They continued to be associated with the Bills through sponsorships.
1985: Buffalo Bills discontinue blue pants
After using them for over a decade, the Buffalo Bills discontinued the blue pants from their uniform in 1985.
1986: Buffalo Bills revert helmet face mask color back from blue
The Buffalo Bills changed the color of their helmet face mask from blue in 1986.
1986: Jills Operate Independently
The Buffalo Jills began operating as an independent organization in 1986, sponsored by various companies, after their time as the official cheerleading squad for the Buffalo Bills.
1987: End of Ed Rutkowski's Tenure as Erie County Executive
In 1987, Ed Rutkowski's time as the county executive of Erie County came to an end.
1987: "Shout" Becomes Theme Song
Scott Kemper's rendition of "Shout," originally by the Isley Brothers, was adopted as the official promotional song for the Buffalo Bills in 1987. It quickly became a fan favorite and a staple at Bills' home games.
1990: Number 31 Reissued
Breaking from a tradition of reserving the number 31, the Buffalo Bills issued it to first-round draft pick James Williams in 1990. This marked the return of the number to general circulation.
1990: Start of Buffalo Bills' Super Bowl appearances
The Buffalo Bills' era of Super Bowl appearances began in 1990, marking the start of their most successful period.
1992: Bills Defeat Dolphins in AFC Championship
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins in the 1992 AFC Championship Game, securing their spot in the Super Bowl.
1992: The Comeback
In a remarkable playoff game in 1992, the Buffalo Bills, led by quarterback Frank Reich, mounted an incredible comeback against the Houston Oilers. The Bills overcame a 35-3 deficit to win the game 41-38.
1993: Buffalo Bills' fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance
In 1993, the Buffalo Bills made their fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance, a record in the NFL.
1993: Bills Win AFC Championship, Head to Super Bowl
The Buffalo Bills triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1993 AFC Championship Game, marking their fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
1993: New England Patriots switch to silver helmets
The New England Patriots, who were previously using white helmets, switched to silver helmets in 1993.
1994: Banning of Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson's Tailgates
In 1994, Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson, a Bills superfan known for his tailgating antics, was banned from holding his tailgate parties on stadium property by order of the league.
1995: Last division championship and playoff win for the Buffalo Bills before a long drought
The Buffalo Bills' last division championship and playoff victory before a prolonged drought occurred in 1995.
1996: Jack Kemp's Vice Presidential Nomination
In 1996, Jack Kemp was the Republican Party nominee for Vice President of the United States under Bob Dole.
1996: Jaguars' First Playoff Win Over Bills
Prior to their 2017 victory, the Jacksonville Jaguars recorded their first playoff win against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium in 1996.
1999: The Music City Miracle
The Buffalo Bills' playoff run came to a controversial end in 1999 with "The Music City Miracle." The Tennessee Titans (formerly the Oilers) scored a game-winning touchdown on a kickoff return in the final seconds. The play involved a controversial lateral pass that was ruled a touchdown, giving the Titans a 22-16 victory. This marked the Bills' last playoff appearance until 2017.
2000: Start of Buffalo Bills' 17-year playoff drought
The Buffalo Bills' playoff hopes were dashed in 2000, marking the beginning of a 17-year drought, the longest in their history.
2001: Tom Brady's Emergence Ignites Rivalry
The Bills-Patriots rivalry escalated significantly with Tom Brady's arrival in New England in 2001, leading to two decades of Patriots dominance in the AFC East.
2002: Mike Hollis Wears Number 1
Kicker Mike Hollis wore the number 1 for the Buffalo Bills during the 2002 season, marking a rare instance of the number being used.
2002: Buffalo Bills unveil new uniforms with significant changes
Under the guidance of general manager Tom Donahoe, the Buffalo Bills introduced a radically redesigned uniform in 2002. The new design incorporated a darker shade of blue as the primary jersey color and added nickel gray as an accent color. Both the blue and white jerseys featured red side panels. Despite proposing a new logo, a stylized "B" with two bullets and a detailed buffalo head, fan disapproval led to the team retaining the running bison logo.
2003: John Murphy Becomes Play-by-Play Announcer
After serving as the color commentator for nearly two decades, John Murphy took over as the play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network in 2003.
2005: Buffalo Bills bring back the standing bison helmet and uniform as a throwback
In a nostalgic move, the Buffalo Bills brought back the standing bison helmet and uniform from the mid-1960s as a throwback uniform in 2005.
2006: Buffalo Bills stop wearing blue-on-white uniform combination
After the 2006 season, the Buffalo Bills stopped wearing the blue-on-white uniform combination.
2007: Buffalo Bills stop wearing white-on-blue uniform combination
The Buffalo Bills discontinued wearing the white-on-blue uniform combination after the 2007 season.
2008: Renewed Rivalry and Frequent Matchups
From 2008 to 2017, the Bills and Chiefs reignited their rivalry, facing off in nine out of ten seasons.
2008: Preseason Games Broadcast in HD
Starting in 2008, the Buffalo Bills began broadcasting their preseason games in high definition, enhancing the viewing experience for their fans.
2009: Ralph Wilson's Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
In 2009, Bills owner Ralph Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with ESPN announcer Chris Berman, a noted Bills fan, delivering the induction speech.
2010: Bills Mafia Organized
The "Bills Mafia," a term that would later embody the Buffalo Bills' passionate fan base, started to take shape on Twitter in 2010, spearheaded by Del Reid, Leslie Wille, and Breyon Harris.
November 6, 2011: Bills Wear White at Home Against the Jets
On November 6, 2011, the Buffalo Bills brought back their white-at-home tradition for the first time since 1986 in a game against the New York Jets.
2011: Buffalo Bills unveil a new uniform design
The Buffalo Bills unveiled a new uniform design for the 2011 season, featuring an updated version of their 1975-83 design. Key changes included a return to white helmets with the "charging buffalo" logo and the use of royal blue instead of navy. Although the initial design incorporated striped socks, the Bills gradually phased them out, opting for either all-white or all-blue hosiery in most games by 2021.
April 3, 2012: Bills Unveil New Nike Uniform
On April 3, 2012, the Buffalo Bills revealed their new uniforms designed by Nike as part of the league's new contract.
2012: WBBZ-TV Obtains Rights
WBBZ-TV secured the broadcast rights for Buffalo Bills regular-season games that were broadcast by ESPN in 2012.
2013: WBBZ-TV Retains Rights
WBBZ-TV retained the broadcast rights for Buffalo Bills regular-season games broadcast by ESPN for the 2013 season.
2013: Stampede Drumline Debuts
The Stampede Drumline, known outside Buffalo as Downbeat Percussion, became the official marching band of the Buffalo Bills, making their debut at the last game of the 2013 season.
2013: Jills Suspend Operations
The Buffalo Jills, facing legal challenges and allegations from former cheerleaders, suspended operations before the 2014 season.
October 8, 2014: Terry and Kim Pegula acquire ownership of the Buffalo Bills
On October 8, 2014, Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of the Buffalo Sabres, were granted unanimous approval to purchase the Buffalo Bills during the NFL owners' meetings.
2014: Doug Marrone Resigns from Bills
Doug Marrone's resignation as the Buffalo Bills' head coach in 2014 set the stage for a new rivalry chapter when he later joined the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2014: Terry and Kim Pegula become owners of the Buffalo Bills
Following the death of original owner Ralph Wilson, Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills in 2014.
2014: William Fichtner's Commercial for the Bills
In 2014, actor William Fichtner, a Buffalo native and Bills fan, appeared in a commercial for the team.
2014: Jills Remain Suspended
The Buffalo Jills remained suspended in 2014 following legal actions and allegations from former members.
2014: WKBW-TV Regains Rights
WKBW-TV regained the rights to broadcast Buffalo Bills' regular-season games shown on ESPN in 2014, taking back the rights from WBBZ-TV.
November 12, 2015: Bills Debut All-Red Color Rush Uniforms
On November 12, 2015, the Buffalo Bills made history as one of the first two teams to participate in the NFL's Color Rush initiative, donning an all-red ensemble for the first time ever against the New York Jets.
2015: Release of "Four Falls of Buffalo"
In 2015, ESPN released the 30 for 30 documentary "Four Falls of Buffalo," which focused on the Bills' four Super Bowl appearances and was narrated by William Fichtner.
2015: Jaguars Win First Marrone-Led Matchup
In their first encounter with Doug Marrone at the helm of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills suffered a defeat in a London game during week 7 of the 2015 season.
2016: MSG Western New York Deal
The Buffalo Bills signed a new rights deal in 2016, which included their sister NHL franchise, the Buffalo Sabres. A result of this was that most team-related programming moved to MSG Western New York.
2016: End of Buffalo Bills' 17-year playoff drought
The Buffalo Bills' long playoff drought, spanning 17 years, finally ended in 2016.
December 29, 2017: U.S. Hockey Team Wears Bills-Inspired Uniforms
In a notable instance of the Buffalo Bills' uniforms appearing outside of football, the United States men's national junior ice hockey team sported Bills-inspired gear during the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in an outdoor game against Team Canada on December 29, 2017, held at the Bills' home stadium, Highmark Stadium.
2017: Return to Playoff Contention
Both the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans returned to consistent playoff contention in 2017 after a period of struggles. This resurgence led to several high-profile games between the two teams, reigniting their rivalry.
2017: Ezra Castro's Spinal Tumor Diagnosis
In 2017, Ezra Castro was diagnosed with a spinal tumor that had metastasized.
2017: Jaguars End Bills' Playoff Drought with Wild Card Win
The Jacksonville Jaguars handed the Buffalo Bills their first playoff loss in 17 seasons in a low-scoring Wild Card game in 2017, marking a significant moment in their budding rivalry.
2017: WKBW-TV Rights Expire
The broadcast rights held by WKBW-TV for Buffalo Bills' ESPN games expired in 2017.
2017: Bills and Chiefs Conclude Frequent Matchups
After a decade of frequent matchups, the Bills and Chiefs' series saw a brief pause in 2017.
2017: Bills Mafia Gains Recognition
By 2017, the term "Bills Mafia" had grown into an unofficial yet widely recognized representation of the Buffalo Bills' dedicated and often eccentric fan base, often used by players and fans alike.
2018: Ezra Castro Announces Bills' Draft Pick
In 2018, Ezra Castro was invited to announce one of the Buffalo Bills' draft selections during the NFL Draft.
2018: Nexstar Media Group Partnership
The Buffalo Bills signed an agreement with Nexstar Media Group in 2018 to carry the team's preseason games across its network of stations in the region, expanding the reach of the Bills' games.
2018: Bills Win Rematch, Brawl Erupts
The Buffalo Bills won the rematch against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 12 of the 2018 season, a game marked by trash talk and a brawl between the teams.
May 14, 2019: Death of Ezra "Pancho Billa" Castro
Ezra "Pancho Billa" Castro, a devoted Bills fan known for wearing a large sombrero and lucha mask in Bills colors, passed away on May 14, 2019, after battling a spinal tumor.
2019: New York Jets switch back to green helmets
After using white helmets for 20 years, the New York Jets decided to switch back to their traditional green helmets in 2019.
2019: Number 32 Reissued
The Buffalo Bills reissued the number 32 in 2019, which had been unofficially retired in honor of O.J. Simpson, with Senorise Perry wearing the number.
2020: Chiefs Advance to Consecutive Super Bowls
The Kansas City Chiefs, after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 AFC Championship, secured their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
2020: WIVB-TV Becomes Flagship Station
WIVB-TV became the flagship station for the Buffalo Bills preseason games in 2020, further solidifying the network's partnership with the team.
2020: Brady Departs, Bills' Fortunes Change
Tom Brady's departure from the New England Patriots in 2020 marked a turning point in the Bills-Patriots rivalry, with the Bills gaining an edge in subsequent matchups.
2020: Buffalo Bills win their first division championship since 1995
The Buffalo Bills ended their long wait for a division championship, clinching the title in 2020 for the first time since 1995.
2020: Bills Update Color Rush Socks
In 2020, the Buffalo Bills updated their Color Rush uniform, replacing the red socks with white and blue stripes to solid red socks.
2020: Bills Fans' Charitable Donations
In 2020, Bills fans demonstrated their generosity by crowdfunding hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities associated with Cincinnati Bengals players Andy Dalton and Tyler Boyd after the Bengals helped end the Bills' 17-year playoff drought.
2020: Bills Trademark "Bills Mafia"
Recognizing its cultural significance, the Buffalo Bills filed to trademark the term "Bills Mafia" in 2020, solidifying its association with the team and its passionate supporters.
April 1, 2021: Bills Announce White Face Masks
The Buffalo Bills announced on April 1, 2021, that the team would be wearing white face masks starting in the upcoming season and continuing onward.
2021: Number 15 Last Worn
Jake Kumerow was the last Buffalo Bills player to wear the number 15 in 2021, a number historically issued sparingly after the retirement of Jack Kemp.
2021: Epic Divisional Round Game and Overtime Controversy
The 2021 Divisional Round game between the Bills and Chiefs became an instant classic but also sparked controversy due to the NFL's overtime rules.
2021: Emmanuel Sanders Wears Number 1
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders joined the Buffalo Bills in 2021 and chose to wear the number 1, marking the first time the number was worn in the regular season in 19 years.
2021: Jaguars Pull Off Historic Upset
In a shocking turn of events in week 9 of the 2021 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, defeating the heavily favored Buffalo Bills.
2021: Bills' Historic Win in First Playoff Meeting in 59 Years
In a historic matchup in 2021, the Buffalo Bills dominated the New England Patriots in the rivalry's first playoff meeting in 59 years, achieving a "perfect offensive game" by scoring a touchdown on every offensive drive.
2021: Founding of the Water Buffalo Club 716
In 2021, the Water Buffalo Club 716, a community of over 2,000 Buffalo Bills supporters from around the world, was founded by Therese Forton-Barnes.
2021: Buffalo Bills reduce the use of striped socks
By 2021, the Buffalo Bills had significantly reduced their use of striped socks, opting instead for solid white or blue hosiery for most games.
March 3, 2022: Bills Settle With Jills
The Buffalo Bills reached a settlement on March 3, 2022, with former members of the Buffalo Jills cheerleading squad, agreeing to pay $3.5 million to resolve claims of unfair labor practices.
2022: John Murphy Suffers Stroke
John Murphy, the long-time voice of the Buffalo Bills, suffered a stroke in 2022, leading to his departure from the broadcast booth. He was replaced by Chris Brown.
2022: Bills Secure Consecutive AFC East Titles
The Buffalo Bills continued their winning streak against the New England Patriots, securing consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2022.
2023: Bills Lead Series Against Jets
As of 2023, the Buffalo Bills maintain a lead in the overall series against the New York Jets.
2023: Bills-Dolphins Rivalry Continues
As of 2023, the Miami Dolphins hold a slight lead in the overall series against the Buffalo Bills, but the Bills have the upper hand in playoff matchups.
2023: Patriots Lead Overall, Bills Lead in Brady-less Era
As of 2023, while the New England Patriots lead the overall series, the Buffalo Bills hold the advantage in games played without Tom Brady on the field.
May 16, 2024: Roster Updated
The Buffalo Bills updated their roster on May 16, 2024, reflecting changes in the team's lineup.
2026: Planned opening of Buffalo Bills' new stadium
The Buffalo Bills have announced plans to open a new stadium in 2026, replacing Highmark Stadium.