History of Buffalo Bills in Timeline
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team located in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls area. They compete in the NFL as part of the AFC East division. Their home games are currently played at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, with a new stadium under construction scheduled for completion in 2026.
1918: Tommy Hughitt's Era Begins
In 1918 to 1924, Tommy Hughitt was a player-coach wearing number 1 for the early Buffalo teams in the New York Pro Football League and NFL.
1924: Tommy Hughitt's Era Ends
In 1918 to 1924, Tommy Hughitt was a player-coach wearing number 1 for the early Buffalo teams in the New York Pro Football League and NFL .
1929: Buffalo All-Americans Folded
In 1929, the Buffalo All-Americans (renamed the Bisons) folded, leaving Buffalo out of the league.
1959: AFL Charter Member
In 1959, the Buffalo Bills were founded as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).
1960: Began Competitive Play
In 1960, the Buffalo Bills began competitive play as a charter member of the American Football League.
1962: Logo and Color Changes
In 1962, the standing red bison was designated as the logo and took its place on a white helmet. In 1962, the team's colors also changed to red, white, and blue.
1964: AFL Championship
In 1964, the Buffalo Bills won the American Football League (AFL) Championship Game.
1964: American Football League Title
In 1964, the Buffalo Bills won the American Football League title.
1964: Jersey Change
In 1964, the jerseys again saw a change when the shoulder stripes were replaced by a distinctive stripe pattern on the sleeves consisting of four stripes.
1965: Helmet Change
By 1965, red and blue center stripes were put on the helmets.
1965: American Football League Title
In 1965, the Buffalo Bills won their second consecutive American Football League title.
1966: AFL Championship Game Appearance
From 1964 to 1966, the Buffalo Bills advanced to the AFL Championship Game three years in a row.
1966: Chiefs Win 1966 AFL Championship
In 1966, the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFL Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, advancing to the first Super Bowl.
1966: Dolphins Join the AFL
In 1966, the Miami Dolphins joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team.
1967: Buffalo Jills operations
From 1967 to 1985, The Bills operated a cheerleading squad named the Buffalo Jills.
1967: Struggled in the AFL
From 1967 to 1987, the Bills struggled heavily in the latter years of the AFL and for much of their first two decades in the NFL.
1969: Number 31 Briefly Issued
In 1969, reserve running back Preston Ridlehuber wore the number 31 jersey after damaging his number 36 jersey during a game.
1970: Joined NFL
In 1970, the Buffalo Bills joined the NFL as part of the AFL–NFL merger.
1971: Jack Kemp elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 1971, former Bills quarterback Jack Kemp was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Western New York, beginning his career in politics.
1973: Blue Pants Introduced
In 1973, the Bills introduced blue pants worn with the white jerseys.
1974: Face Mask Changed to Blue
From 1974 through 1986 the face mask on the helmet was blue.
1974: Charging Buffalo Logo Introduced
In 1974, the standing bison logo was replaced by a blue charging one with a red slanting stripe. The newer emblem was designed by Stevens Wright.
1974: Helmet Logo Adopted
In 2002, the Bills' uniforms went through radical changes, introducing a darker shade of blue and nickel gray as an accent color. The helmet logo adopted in 1974 remained unchanged.
1975: New Uniform Design
In 2011, the Buffalo Bills unveiled a new uniform design, an updated rendition of the 1975–83 design.
1979: Ed Rutkowski becomes Erie County executive
In 1979, Ed Rutkowski, a former backup quarterback for the Bills, became the county executive of Erie County.
1981: Bills win playoff game
In 1981, the Buffalo Bills secured a playoff win against the New York Jets.
1982: Whammy Weenie introduced and discontinued
In 1982, a local grocery store introduced the Whammy Weenie as a promotional item, but it was discontinued after Bills owner Ralph Wilson objected to its double entendre.
April 27, 1984: Silver Anniversary Team Announced
On April 27, 1984, the Buffalo Bills announced the Silver Anniversary team to commemorate its 25th anniversary.
1984: John Murphy Becomes Color Commentator
From 1984 to 2003, John Murphy served as the color commentator for most years for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network.
1984: Helmet Color Changed to Red
In 1984, the helmet's shell color was changed from white to red to help the quarterback distinguish the Bills from their rivals.
1984: Wore White at Home
In the 1980s, including all eight home games in 1984, Buffalo sporadically wore white at home.
1984: Jets Move to New Jersey
Since 1984, the New York Jets have played their home games in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
1985: Buffalo Jills operations
From 1967 to 1985, The Bills operated a cheerleading squad named the Buffalo Jills.
1985: Blue Pants Discontinued
The blue pants introduced in 1973 remained through 1985.
1986: Face Mask Changed to White
From 1974 through 1986 the face mask on the helmet was blue before changing to white.
1986: Jills Operate as Independent Organization
From 1986 to 2013, the Buffalo Jills operated as an independent organization sponsored by various companies.
1986: Wore White at Home
On November 6, 2011, against the New York Jets, the Bills wore white at home for the first time since 1986.
1987: Stopped Wearing White at Home
Buffalo stopped wearing white at home beginning in 1987.
1987: Struggled in the AFL
From 1967 to 1987, the Bills struggled heavily in the latter years of the AFL and for much of their first two decades in the NFL.
1987: Ed Rutkowski's term as Erie County executive ends
In 1987, Ed Rutkowski's term as Erie County executive concluded, marking the end of his service in that role.
1987: Official promotional song used
In 1987, the Buffalo Bills began using a variation of the Isley Brothers hit "Shout," recorded by Scott Kemper, as their official promotional song. This song was used until the 1990s.
1990: Super Bowl Appearance
From 1990 to 1993, the Buffalo Bills appeared in a record four consecutive Super Bowls.
1990: Number 31 Reissued
In 1990, first-round draft choice James Williams wore the number 31 for his first two seasons, after which it was returned to general circulation.
1992: Bills win 1992 AFC Championship
In 1992, the Buffalo Bills secured a win against the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.
1992: The Comeback
In 1992, the Frank Reich-led Buffalo Bills overcame a 35-3 deficit to stun the Houston Oilers 41-38 in a game known as The Comeback.
1993: Super Bowl Appearance
From 1990 to 1993, the Buffalo Bills appeared in a record four consecutive Super Bowls.
1993: Patriots Helmet Color Changed
In 1984, the helmet's shell color was changed from white to red to help the quarterback distinguish the Bills from their rivals. The Patriots have worn silver helmets since 1993.
1993: Bills Win 1993 AFC Championship
In 1993, the Buffalo Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game to advance to their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance.
1993: AFC Championship Appearance
In the 2020 season, the Buffalo Bills reached the AFC Championship for the first time since the 1993 season, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-24.
1994: Pinto Ron begins streak of attending every game
Since 1994, Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson has attended every Buffalo Bills home and away game, becoming a notable figure in the Bills fan community.
1995: Division Championship and Playoff Wins
In the 2020 season, the Buffalo Bills earned its first division championship and playoff wins since 1995.
1996: Jack Kemp nominated for Vice President
In 1996, Jack Kemp was nominated as the Republican Party candidate for Vice President of the United States under Bob Dole.
1996: Jaguars Hand Bills First Playoff Loss in Bills Stadium
In 1996, the Jacksonville Jaguars handed the Buffalo Bills their first playoff loss in Bills Stadium.
1999: Music City Miracle
In 1999, the Tennessee Titans (formerly Houston Oilers) scored on a controversial near-last-minute kickoff return, known as the Music City Miracle, to beat the Buffalo Bills 22-16, marking Buffalo's last playoff appearance until 2017.
2000: Playoff Drought
From 2000 to 2016, the Bills endured a 17-year playoff drought.
2002: Mike Hollis Wears Number 1
In 2002, kicker Mike Hollis wore number 1, marking the last time it was worn in the regular season before 2021.
2002: Radical Uniform Changes
In 2002, the Bills' uniforms went through radical changes, introducing a darker shade of blue and nickel gray as an accent color. A new logo was proposed but not adopted due to fan backlash.
2003: John Murphy Becomes Play-by-Play Announcer
From 2003 to 2022, John Murphy served as the play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network.
2004: Mike Mularkey Coached Bills
In 2004, Mike Mularkey coached the Bills and went 9-7 but missed the postseason.
2005: Mike Mularkey Resigned
In 2005, Mike Mularkey coached the Bills and went 5-11 and resigned from the team following the season.
2005: Throwback Uniform Revived
In 2005, the Buffalo Bills revived the standing bison helmet and uniform of the mid-1960s as a throwback uniform.
2006: Dick Jauron Hired as Coach
From 2006 to 2009, Dick Jauron coached the Bills.
2006: All-Blue Combination Discontinued
The Buffalo Bills stopped wearing blue-on-white after 2006.
2007: White-on-Blue Not Worn
The Buffalo Bills stopped wearing white-on-blue after 2007.
2008: Bills and Chiefs Meet
From 2008 to 2017, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs met in nine of ten years.
2008: Preseason Games Broadcast in High Definition
Since 2008, Buffalo Bills preseason games have been broadcast in high definition.
2009: Dick Jauron Dismissed
In 2009, Dick Jauron was dismissed after a 3-6 start to his fourth season. Perry Fewell finished out the season as interim.
2009: Chris Berman gives Ralph Wilson's Hall of Fame induction speech
In 2009, ESPN announcer Chris Berman gave the induction speech for Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson when Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2010: Chan Gailey Hired as Coach
From 2010 to 2012, Chan Gailey coached the Buffalo Bills.
2010: "Bills Mafia" organized via Twitter
In 2010, Del Reid, Leslie Wille, and Breyon Harris organized the "Bills Mafia" via Twitter, marking the beginning of this fan community.
November 6, 2011: Wore White at Home
On November 6, 2011, against the New York Jets, the Bills wore white at home for the first time since 1986.
2011: New Uniform Design
In 2011, the Buffalo Bills unveiled a new uniform design, an updated rendition of the 1975–83 design.
April 3, 2012: Nike Uniform Unveiled
On April 3, 2012, the Buffalo Bills' uniform received minor alterations as part of the league's new uniform contract with Nike. The new Nike uniform was unveiled.
2012: WBBZ-TV Holds Broadcast Rights
In 2012 and 2013, WBBZ-TV held the broadcast rights to Buffalo Bills cable games.
2012: Chan Gailey Fired
In 2012, Chan Gailey was fired after three consecutive last place finishes in the AFC East.
2013: Jills Operate as Independent Organization
From 1986 to 2013, the Buffalo Jills operated as an independent organization sponsored by various companies.
2013: WBBZ-TV Holds Broadcast Rights
In 2012 and 2013, WBBZ-TV held the broadcast rights to Buffalo Bills cable games.
2013: Doug Marrone Hired as Head Coach
In the 2013 season, Doug Marrone was hired to be the Bills' head coach.
2013: Stampede Drumline Serves as Official Drumline
Since the last game of the 2013 season, the Stampede Drumline has served as the official marching band or drumline for the Buffalo Bills.
October 8, 2014: Pegula Approved to Acquire Bills
On October 8, 2014, Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula received unanimous approval to acquire the Bills.
2014: Doug Marrone Quits Bills
After the 2014 season, Doug Marrone quit as head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
2014: WKBW-TV Holds Broadcast Rights
From 2014 to 2017, WKBW-TV held the broadcast rights to Buffalo Bills cable games.
2014: Terry Pegula Purchased Bills
In 2014, Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills after the death of the original owner, Ralph Wilson.
2014: William Fichtner does commercial for the team
In 2014, actor William Fichtner, a Bills fan, appeared in a commercial for the Buffalo Bills, showing his support for the team.
2014: Jills Suspend Operations
Prior to the 2014 season, the Buffalo Jills suspended operations due to legal actions.
November 12, 2015: Color Rush Uniform Initiative
On November 12, 2015, the Bills and the New York Jets became the first two teams to participate in the NFL's Color Rush uniform initiative, with Buffalo wearing an all-red combination.
2015: William Fichtner narrates "Four Falls of Buffalo"
In 2015, actor William Fichtner narrated the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the Bills' four Super Bowl appearances, titled "Four Falls of Buffalo".
2015: Jaguars Win London Game
In 2015, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Buffalo Bills 34-31 in a London game.
2015: Rex Ryan Hired as Head Coach
Prior to the 2015 season, former Jets' head coach Rex Ryan was hired to become the next head coach of the Bills.
2016: Team Programming Relocated to MSG Western New York
Beginning in the 2016 season, most Buffalo Bills team-related programming was relocated to MSG Western New York.
2016: End of Playoff Drought
From 2000 to 2016, the Bills endured a 17-year playoff drought.
2016: Rex Ryan Dismissed
In 2016, Rex Ryan was dismissed with one game remaining in the season, with Anthony Lynn finishing the season as interim.
December 29, 2017: WJHC Outdoor Game
On December 29, 2017, the United States men's national junior ice hockey team wore Bills-inspired uniforms in their outdoor game against Team Canada at Highmark Stadium.
2017: "Bills Mafia" becomes a widespread term
By 2017, the phrase "Bills Mafia" had grown to unofficially represent the broad community surrounding and encompassing the Buffalo Bills team.
2017: Bills and Chiefs Meet
From 2008 to 2017, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs met in nine of ten years.
2017: WKBW-TV Holds Broadcast Rights
From 2014 to 2017, WKBW-TV held the broadcast rights to Buffalo Bills cable games.
2017: Ezra Castro diagnosed with spinal tumor
In 2017, Ezra Castro, also known as "Pancho Billa", was diagnosed with a spinal tumor that had metastasized, marking a difficult time for the beloved fan figure.
2017: Jaguars Win Wild Card Game Against Bills
In 2017, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Buffalo Bills 10-3 in a low-scoring Wild Card game, marking Buffalo's first playoff appearance in 17 seasons.
2017: Teams Return to Playoff Contention
Since 2017, both the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans have returned to consistent playoff contention, leading to several high-profile games.
2018: Pancho Billa invited on stage at NFL Draft
In 2018, Ezra Castro, "Pancho Billa", was invited on stage during the NFL draft to read one of the Bills' selections, recognizing his significant impact.
2018: Drafted Josh Allen
In 2018, the Buffalo Bills drafted Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.
2018: Agreement with Nexstar Media Group
In 2018, the Buffalo Bills signed an agreement with Nexstar Media Group to carry Bills preseason games across its network of stations.
2018: Bills Win Rematch Game Against Jaguars
In 2018, the Buffalo Bills won a "rematch" game against the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-21, which was marked by a brawl between the teams.
May 14, 2019: Ezra Castro (Pancho Billa) dies
On May 14, 2019, Ezra Castro, also known as "Pancho Billa", passed away after battling a spinal tumor.
2019: Jets Helmet Color Changed
In 1984, the helmet's shell color was changed from white to red to help the quarterback distinguish the Bills from their rivals. In 2019 the New York Jets switched back to green-colored helmets.
2019: Number 32 Re-Circulated
In 2019, number 32 was placed back into circulation, with Senorise Perry wearing the number that year.
2019: Kyle Williams Retirement
In 2019, number 95 has not been reissued since the retirement of Kyle Williams.
2020: WIVB-TV Becomes Flagship Station
As of 2020, WIVB-TV serves as the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills preseason games network.
2020: Fans donate to Oishei Children's Hospital
In 2020, after a Bills win and news of Josh Allen's grandmother's passing, fans donated nearly $700,000 to the Oishei Children's Hospital in support of Allen and the community.
2020: Bills file to trademark "Bills Mafia" name
In 2020, the Buffalo Bills organization filed to trademark the name "Bills Mafia", recognizing its significance and association with the team.
2020: Chiefs Win 2020 AFC Championship Game
In 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, advancing to their second straight Super Bowl appearance.
2020: Socks Changed on Color Rush Uniform
In 2020, the striped red socks on the Bills Color Rush uniforms were replaced with red socks without stripes.
2020: AFC Championship Appearance
In the 2020 season, the Buffalo Bills reached the AFC Championship for the first time since the 1993 season, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-24.
April 1, 2021: Announced White Face Masks
On April 1, 2021, the Buffalo Bills team announced they would wear white face masks during the upcoming season and beyond.
2021: Sock Usage Reduced
By 2021, the Bills gradually reduced the usage of striped socks and began wearing either all-white or all-blue hosiery without stripes in most games.
2021: High-Profile Matchups Between Bills and Chiefs
In 2020 and 2021, there were four high-profile matchups between the Bills and Chiefs, including the 2020 AFC Championship Game and the 2021 Divisional round game.
2021: Emmanuel Sanders Wears Number 1
In 2021, Emmanuel Sanders had a one-year stint with the Bills, wearing number 1 which had not been worn in the regular season since 2002.
2021: Bills Dominate Patriots in Playoff Matchup
In 2021, the Buffalo Bills achieved a dominant 47–17 victory against the New England Patriots in their first playoff match-up in 59 years, scoring a touchdown on every offensive drive.
2021: Bills Upset by Jaguars
In 2021, the Buffalo Bills, as 15.5-point favorites, were upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars, losing 9-6.
2021: Water Buffalo Club 716 founded
In 2021, the Water Buffalo Club 716, a community of over 2,000 Bills supporters, was founded by Therese Forton-Barnes, further solidifying fan traditions.
2021: AFC East Title
In the 2021 season, the Buffalo Bills won the AFC East with an 11-6 record. The Bills defeated the Patriots 47–17 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 42–36 in overtime.
March 3, 2022: Settlement Reached in Jills Lawsuit
On March 3, 2022, a settlement was reached in the Buffalo Jills lawsuit, with the Bills agreeing to pay $3.5 million.
2022: Kim Pegula Injured
After Kim was incapacitated by a 2022 vascular brain injury, a portion of her stake in the team was transferred to her stepdaughter Laura.
2022: Consecutive AFC East Titles
From 2020 to 2022, the Buffalo Bills secured consecutive AFC East titles.
2022: Chris Brown Takes Over as Play-by-Play Announcer
In 2022, Chris Brown became the Buffalo Bills Radio Network's play-by-play announcer, succeeding John Murphy.
2022: AFC East Title and Playoff Run
In the 2022 season, the Bills won the AFC East with a 13–3 record. They defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round.
2023: Rasul Douglas Wears Number 31
In 2023, Cornerback Rasul Douglas wears number 31 after joining the Buffalo Bills.
2023: AFC East Title and Playoff Run
In the 2023 season, the Bills won the AFC East for the fourth consecutive season. They defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
2023: Connor J. McGovern Wears Number 66
Since 2023, Connor J. McGovern has worn the number 66, a number historically issued sparingly.
October 15, 2024: Marquez Valdes-Scantling Released
On October 15, 2024, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who last wore number 15, was released.
December 2024: Stake sold to equity investors
In December 2024, a 20% stake in the team was sold to a coalition of private equity investors and former Toronto athletes Jozy Altidore, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
December 2024: Sold part of their franchise
In December 2024, the Bills became one of the first teams in NFL history to sell part of their franchise to outside private equity investors.
December 22, 2024: New Uniform Combination Debut
On December 22, 2024, the Buffalo Bills debuted a new uniform combination, featuring the red Color Rush uniform with white pants.
2024: Bills fans raise money for Tua Tagovailoa's charity
After a 2024 game where Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion, Bills fans helped raise $18,000 for his charity, The Tua Foundation.
2024: Bills Lead Jets Series
As of 2024, the Buffalo Bills lead the series against the New York Jets with a 71–58 record, including a playoff win in 1981.
2024: Miami Dolphins lead the series
As of 2024, the Miami Dolphins lead the overall series against the Buffalo Bills with a 62–60–1 record, although Buffalo has a 4-1 advantage in playoff games.
2024: Minority Stake Sold
In 2024, a coalition of private equity funds and investors purchased a minority stake in the Buffalo Bills.
2024: Team Hype Song Emerges
In 2024, the Bills' offensive players started a tradition of singing "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers as a hype song, typically in the fourth quarter. The Bills remained undefeated at home in 2024 after introducing the song.
2024: Bills Win Against Jaguars
In 2024, the Buffalo Bills defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10 on Monday Night Football.
2024: Another AFC East Title
In the 2024 season, the Buffalo Bills finished with a 13-4 record and won another AFC East title. Following wins over the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
January 2025: Nicholas Morrow Waived
In January 2025, linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who most recently wore number 32, was waived by the Buffalo Bills.
2026: New Stadium Completion
In 2026, the Buffalo Bills are expected to have their new stadium completed, replacing Highmark Stadium.
