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Buffalo Bills

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 165.190.89.139 (talk) at 00:19, 25 April 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Buffalo Bills (disambiguation).

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Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills logo
Buffalo Bills logo
Logo
Established 1959
Play in Orchard Park, New York; Toronto, Ontario
League / conference affiliations
American Football League (1960-1969)
  • Eastern Division (1960-1969)

National Football League (1970–present)

Uniforms
File:AFCE-Uniform-BUF.PNG
Team colorsDark navy, scarlet red, royal blue, white, nickel          
MascotBilly Buffalo
Personnel
Owner(s)Ralph Wilson
General managerRuss Brandon[1]
Adrian Montgomery (Toronto operations)
Head coachDick Jauron
Team history
  • Buffalo Bills (1960–present)
Championships
League championships (2)
Conference championships (4)
  • AFC: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Division championships (10)
  • AFL East: 1964, 1965, 1966
  • AFC East: 1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Playoff appearances (17)
  • AFL: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
  • NFL: 1974, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
Home fields

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the metropolitan area of Buffalo, New York. They sold out every game in 2008. They play their home games in the suburb of Orchard Park, and beginning in 2008, one home game is played in Toronto. They are members of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills began competitive play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL merger.

The Bills won two consecutive American Football League titles in 1964 and 1965, but the club has not won a league championship since the merger. Buffalo is also the only team to win four consecutive American Football Conference Championships, and won all four Super Bowls.

The Bills were named as the result of the winning entry in a local contest, which named the team after the AAFC Buffalo Bills, a previous football franchise from the All-America Football Conference that merged with the Cleveland Browns in 1950. That team, in turn, was named after William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The Bills' cheerleaders are known as the Buffalo Jills. The official mascot is Billy Buffalo.

The Bills conduct summer training camp at Saint John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY, a suburb of Rochester.

They are the only NFL team to play their home games within New York State. Both the New York Jets and the New York Giants play in the suburb of East Rutherford, New Jersey outside of New York City. On October 2, 2005, the Bills played the New Orleans Saints in the first NFL regular season game held in San Antonio, Texas. With the inception of the Bills Toronto Series in 2008, they are also the only team to play home games in Canada. Currently, the Bills are the only team to have two home sites and only the third in modern NFL history to have more than one home stadium in a season (the Green Bay Packers had played games at sites in Green Bay and Milwaukee from 1933 until 1994, and the aforementioned Saints split home games between San Antonio, Giants Stadium and Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina).

History

Main article: History of the Buffalo Bills

Logos and uniforms

Main article: Logos and uniforms of the Buffalo Bills

Players of note

Current players

Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve


As of January 4, 2025. Rookies in italics.

53 active, 4 reserve, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame

Pro Football Hall Of Fame

Retired numbers

  • 12 Jim Kelly, QB, 1986–96

[2]

Unofficially retired

  • 32 O.J. Simpson, RB, 1969–77
  • 34 Thurman Thomas, RB, 1988–99
  • 78 Bruce Smith, DE, 1985–99 (although guard Ruben Brown used 78 as his practice jersey; he wore 79 on the field)

Since the earliest days of the team, the number 31 was not supposed to be issued to any player. The Bills had stationery and various other team merchandise showing a running player wearing that number, and it was not supposed to represent any specific person, but the 'spirit of the team.' The tradition was broken in 1969 when reserve running back Preston Ridlehuber was issued number 31 for one game while his normal number 36 jersey was repaired by equipment manager Tony Marchitte. The number 31 was not issued again until 1990 when first round draft choice James (J.D.) Williams wore it for his first two seasons. The number has since been released for use by any player and was most recently worn by backup running back Dwayne Wright.

Active in NFL

Players

Players currently on NFL active rosters, listed in alphabetical order by current team.

49ers: Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes; Bears: None; Bengals: Shayne Graham; Broncos: Mario Haggan; Browns: Robert Royal; Buccaneers: Angelo Crowell; Cardinals: Mike Gandy; Chargers: None; Chiefs: Ron Edwards; Colts: Christian Gaddis*; Cowboys: None; Dolphins: None; Eagles: Rashad Baker, Jon Dorenbos; Falcons: Mike Schneck, Coy Wire; Giants: Dwayne Wright; Jaguars: Kennard Cox*; Jets: Jim Leonhard; Lions: Michael Gaines, Eric King; Packers: Nevin McCaskill*, Duke Preston; Panthers: None; Patriots: Sam Aiken, Sammy Morris; Raiders: Luke Lawton*; Rams: C. J. Ah You*, Eric Bassey*; Ravens: Justin Bannan, Willis McGahee, Evan Oglesby*; Redskins: Ethan Albright, Todd Collins, Derrick Dockery, London Fletcher; Saints: Darian Barnes, Jabari Greer, Pierson Prioleau; Seahawks: None; Steelers: Martin Nance*; Texans: Courtney Anderson*, André Davis; Titans: Josh Stamer; Vikings: Pat Williams, Antoine Winfield

*Offseason and/or practice squad member of the Bills only

All-time first round draft picks

1960s[3]

Year Player College Position
1960 Richie Lucas Penn State Quarterback
1961 Ken Rice, 1st Overall Auburn Tackle
1963 Dave Behrman Michigan State Center
1964 Carl Eller Minnesota Defensive End
1965 Jim Davidson Ohio State Tackle
1966 Mike Dennis Mississippi Running Back
1967 John Pitts Arizona State Safety
1968 Haven Moses San Diego State Wide Receiver
1969 O.J. Simpson, 1st Overall Southern California Running Back

1970s[3]

Year Player College Position
1970 Al Cowlings Southern California Defensive Tackle
1971 J.D. Hill Arizona State Wide Receiver
1972 Walt Patulski, 1st Overall Notre Dame Defensive End
1973 Paul Seymour Michigan Tight End
1973 Joe DeLamielleure Michigan State Guard
1974 Reuben Gant Oklahoma State Tight End
1975 Tom Ruud Nebraska Linebacker
1976 Mario Clark Oregon Defensive Back
1977 Phil Dokes Oklahoma State Defensive Tackle
1978 Terry Miller Oklahoma State Running Back
1979 Tom Cousineau, 1st Overall Ohio State Linebacker
1979 Jerry Butler Clemson Wide Receiver

1980s[3]

Year Player College Position
1980 Jim Ritcher North Carolina State Center
1981 Booker Moore Penn State Running Back
1982 Perry Tuttle Clemson Wide Receiver
1983 Tony Hunter Notre Dame Tight End
1983 Jim Kelly Miami (FL) Quarterback
1984 Greg Bell Notre Dame Running Back
1985 Bruce Smith, 1st Overall Virginia Tech Defensive End
1985 Derrick Burroughs Memphis State Defensive Back
1986 Ronnie Harmon Iowa Running Back
1986 Will Wolford Vanderbilt Tackle
1987 Shane Conlan Penn State Linebacker
1988 No 1st Rd Pick, Thurman Thomas (2nd Round) Oklahoma State Running Back
1989 No 1st Rd Pick, Don Beebe (3rd Round) Chadron State Wide Receiver

1990s[3]

Year Player College Position
1990 James Williams Fresno State Defensive Back
1991 Henry Jones Illinois Defensive Back
1992 John Fina Arizona Tackle
1993 Thomas Smith North Carolina Defensive Back
1994 Jeff Burris Notre Dame Defensive Back
1995 Ruben Brown Pittsburgh Guard
1996 Eric Moulds Mississippi State Wide Receiver
1997 Antowain Smith Houston Running Back
1998 No 1st Rd Pick, Sam Cowart (2nd Round) Florida State Linebacker
1999 Antoine Winfield Ohio State Defensive Back

2000s

Year Player College Position
2000 Erik Flowers Arizona State Defensive End
2001 Nate Clements Ohio State Defensive Back
2002 Mike Williams Texas Tackle
2003 Willis McGahee Miami (FL) Running Back
2004 Lee Evans Wisconsin Wide Receiver
2004 J.P. Losman Tulane Quarterback
2005 No 1st Round Pick, Roscoe Parrish (2nd Round) Miami (FL) Wide Receiver
2006 Donte Whitner Ohio State Safety
2006 John McCargo North Carolina State Defensive Tackle
2007 Marshawn Lynch California Running Back
2008 Leodis McKelvin Troy Defensive Back

Recent Pro Bowl selections

  • 2008 Season - Jason Peters (Starting Offensive Tackle), Marshawn Lynch (Running Back - Injury Replacement)[4]
  • 2007 Season - Jason Peters (Offensive Tackle), Aaron Schobel (Defensive End - Injury Replacement)[5]
  • 2006 Season - Aaron Schobel (Defensive End), Brian Moorman (Punter)[6]
  • 2005 Season - Brian Moorman (Punter)[7]
  • 2004 Season - Brian Moorman (Punter), Mike Schneck (Need Player)[8]
  • 2003 Season - Takeo Spikes (Line Backer), Ruben Brown (Offensive Guard)[9]
  • 2002 Season - Drew Bledsoe (Quarterback), Ruben Brown (Offensive Guard), Eric Moulds (Wide Receiver), Travis Henry (Running Back - Injury Replacement)[10]

Coaches of note

Head coaches

Main article: List of Buffalo Bills head coaches

Current staff

Buffalo Bills staff
Front office
  • Owner/CEO/president – Terry Pegula
  • Owner – Kim Pegula
  • General manager – Brandon Beane
  • Assistant general manager – Brian Gaine
  • Director of player personnel – Terrance Gray
  • Senior advisor to the GM/football operations – Jim Overdorf
  • Senior executive – Lake Dawson
  • Senior personnel advisor – Malik Boyd
  • Co-director of pro scouting – Chris Marrow
  • Co-director of pro scouting – Curtis Rukavina
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Asil Mulbah
  • Vice president of football administration – Kevin Meganck
  • Director of football operations – Brendan Rowe
  • Director of college scouting – Matt Bazirgan
Head coach
Offensive coaches
  
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
  • Special teams coordinator – Matthew Smiley
  • Assistant special teams – Cory Harkey
  • Director of team administration – Matt Worswick
Strength and conditioning
  • Head strength and conditioning – Eric Ciano
  • Assistant strength and conditioning/performance development – Will Greenberg
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Hal Luther
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Nick Lacy
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Jason Oszvart

→ Coaching staff
→ Front office
→ More NFL staffs

Radio and television

The Buffalo Bills Radio Network is currently flagshipped at WGRF 96.9FM, with games also available on WEDG 103.3FM. John Murphy is the team's current play-by-play announcer; he was a color commentator alongside and eventually succeeded longtime voice Van Miller after Miller's retirement at the end of the 2003 NFL season. Mark Kelso serves as the color analyst. The Bills radio network has over twenty affiliates in upstate New York and one affiliate, CJCL 590AM (The Fan) in Toronto.

During preseason, most games are televised on Buffalo's ABC affiliate, WKBW-TV channel 7, with several other affiliates in western New York. These games are simulcast on sister stations WTVH in Syracuse, WICU in Erie, WHAM-TV in Rochester, and beginning in 2008, CITY-TV in Toronto. Ray Bentley, a former Bills linebacker and current AFL on ESPN analyst, does play by play, while CBS analyst and former Bills special teams player Steve Tasker does color commentary on these games. WHAM-TV sports anchor Mike Catalana is the sideline reporter. Since 2008, preseason games have been broadcast in high definition.

In the event that regular season (or preseason) games are broadcast by a cable outlet (ESPN or NFL Network), WKBW-TV carries the ESPN or NFL Network feed.

Notes and references

  1. ^ Brandon's official title is "chief operating officer," although he fulfills the duties of a general manager. The Bills do not currently have a person with the title of General Manager.
  2. ^ http://www.nflteamhistory.com/nfl_teams/buffalo_bills/retired_numbers.html
  3. ^ a b c d NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Edited by Randall Liu, pp. 393, Workman Publishing, 2001, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2
  4. ^ Brown, Chris (Jan 29, 2009). "Lynch headed to Pro Bowl". Buffalo Bills.com. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  5. ^ 2008 Pro Bowl rosters
  6. ^ 2007 Pro Bowl rosters - NFL - MSNBC.com
  7. ^ 2006 Pro Bowl Rosters
  8. ^ ESPN - 2005 AFC Pro Bowl roster - NFL
  9. ^ 2004 Pro Bowl Roster - AFC
  10. ^ ESPN.com: NFL - AFC Pro Bowl squad

See also

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