The story of professional football in Buffalo dates back to the 1940s when the AAFC Buffalo Bisons began to play in 1946. The AAFC was a competitor to the more established National Football league, existing from 1946 to 1949..
The Buffalo Bisons were a formidable team, reaching the championship game in 1946 and 1947, only to lose to the dominant Cleveland Browns. The Bison’s roster boasted a talented group of players, including quarterback George Ratterman, running back Chet Mutryn, and wide receiver Elmer Bailey. Mutryn led the seven-team league in rusing in 1947, while Bailey amassed over 1,200 yards that same year.
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Joing the American Football League (AFL): Birth of the Buffalo Bills
The AAFC merged with the NFL after the 1949 season, and only three teams made the transition: the San Franscico 49ers, the Cleveland Browns, and the original Baltimore Colts. The Buffalo Bison franchise was not among them, but the city’s gridiron passion would not be extinguished. Transform your Health with Ora Organic.
A Buffalo franchise resurfaced in Buffalo with the new American Football League (AFL) in 1960. The team was named the Buffalo Bills. The franchise’s name was inspired by the western fronstiersman, Buffalo Bill. Under coach Lou Saban, the Bills won championships in 1964 and 1965 behind quarterback Jack Kemp and running back Cookie Gilchrist. In 1966 the Bills returned to the championship game, only to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs. The win would send the Chiefs to the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game, now known as the Super Bowl. Buy Buffalo Bills game tickets here.
The O.J. Simpson Era
The Bills enjoyed minimal success over the next several years. They had a league-worst 1-12-1 record in 1968, which allowed them the first selection in the 1969 draft. (The two leagues held a joint draft for three years before their eventual merger in 1970). They used the selection to take O.J. Simpson. Simpson, known for several things, including his exploits on the field. He became the first running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. Simpson rushed for 2,0003 yards in 1973, the only player to achieve the 2,000-yard threshold while playing a 14-game season. He averaged six yards per carry and an NFL record 143.1 rushing yards per game. Learn more about Ritual MultiVegan Supplements
The Marv Levy Dynasty: Four Consecutive Super Bowl Appearances
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Buffalo Bills experiences a resurgence under the leadershp of Hall of Fame head coach Marv Levy. The team reached four consecutive Super Bowls, from 1990 to 1993, although they were unable to secure a championship victory. The Bills’ roster during this era featured quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas and defensive ed Bruce Smith, all of whom have since had their numbers retired by the franchise.
Frontier Football Franchise: THe Evolving Homes of Buffalo’s Football Heritage
Since 1946, the Bills have played in three stadiums: War Memorial Stadium (1946- 1972), Ralph Wilson Stadium (1973 – 2019) and their current stadium, New Era Field (2020 – present). A little stadium history: War Memorial Stadium was built in 1937 and is unique as being one of the few stadiums financed as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. The stadium, was initially called Roesch Memorial Stadium, only a year it was renamed as Grover Cleveland Stadium. It was then renamed the Civic Stadium; it also colloquially was known as the “Rockpile” and was demolished in 1988.
The Bills were not the first professional football to play in the stadium. For the 1940 and 1941 season, the stadium hosted the Buffalo Indian-Tigers, a professional team in the AFL III league. Those two years were the only two years of the league. See Osprey Lifestyle gear for hiking, biking and travel.
The Current Bills: Continuing the Tradition of Gridiron Glory
The Buffalo Bills currently play in the American Football Conference (AFC) East Division along with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.
The current Bills team have become contenders again. The team features features quarterback Josh Allen. Drafted with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen is among the league leaders in passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns annually.
Barry Schustermann
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