Buffalo Bills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo Bills |
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| Basic info | |||||||||||||
| Established | October 28, 1959 | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Royal blue, red, gray, white, navy blue |
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| Fight song | "Shout" | ||||||||||||
| Mascot | Billy Buffalo | ||||||||||||
| Personnel | |||||||||||||
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| President | Terry Pegula | ||||||||||||
| General manager | Brandon Beane | ||||||||||||
| Head coach | Sean McDermott | ||||||||||||
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| Team history | |||||||||||||
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| Home fields | |||||||||||||
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| League / conference affiliations | |||||||||||||
American Football League (1960–1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Championships | |||||||||||||
League championships: 2
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Conference championships: 4
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Division championships: 14
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| Playoff appearances (23) | |||||||||||||
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The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team. They are based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area in New York. The Bills play in the National Football League (NFL). They are part of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills are the only NFL team that plays its home games in New York State.
The team started in 1959 as a founding member of the American Football League (AFL). They joined the NFL in 1970 after the AFL and NFL merged. The Bills' name comes from an earlier Buffalo team. That team was named after the famous frontiersman Buffalo Bill. Many fans come from Western New York and Southern Ontario. Terry and Kim Pegula own the team. They bought the Bills in 2014 after the first owner, Ralph Wilson, passed away.
The Bills won two AFL Championships in a row in 1964 and 1965. These are the only major sports championships won by a team from Buffalo. After joining the NFL, the team had some tough years in the 1970s. But they became very strong in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their biggest success was from 1990 to 1993. They played in a record four Super Bowls in a row. However, they lost all four of those games. From the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, the Bills had the longest playoff drought in major North American sports. They went 17 years without making the playoffs. They were the last team in the four major leagues to reach the playoffs in the 21st century. They started making the playoffs again in the late 2010s. But they have not returned to the Super Bowl since their four straight appearances.
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Team History and Success
The Bills started playing in 1960. They were a founding member of the American Football League. Buster Ramsey was their first head coach. They joined the NFL in 1970 as part of the AFL–NFL merger. In their first two seasons, the Bills had records of 5–8–1 and 6–8.
The Bills won two AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. Quarterback Jack Kemp and coach Lou Saban led the team. The club has not won a league championship since then.
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After the AFL–NFL merger, the Bills were an average team in the 1970s. But they had a great running back named O. J. Simpson. In the mid-1980s, the team almost failed. But then, the United States Football League ended. Also, the Bills drafted talented players like Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, and Darryl Talley. This helped the Bills become a top team from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. Coach Marv Levy led them during this time. They won four AFC Championships in a row. This is still a record. However, they lost all four Super Bowls they played in.
The New England Patriots became very strong in the 2000s and 2010s. They had coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. This, along with some failed attempts to rebuild, kept the Bills out of the playoffs. They missed the playoffs for 17 seasons in a row, from 2000 to 2016. This was the longest playoff drought in major sports at the time.
The Sean McDermott Era (2017–Present)
Under head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills ended their long playoff drought. They have made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. The team drafted quarterback Josh Allen in 2018. He was the seventh pick in the NFL Draft.
In the 2020 season, the Bills won their first division title and playoff games since 1995. This happened after Tom Brady left the AFC East. The Bills also developed a strong group of players. These included Allen, Stefon Diggs, Matt Milano, and Tre'Davious White. In 2020, the Bills reached the AFC Championship for the first time since 1993. But they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38–24.
The Bills won the AFC East again in 2021 with an 11–6 record. They beat the Patriots 47–17 in the Wild Card Round. Then they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 42–36 in overtime. In 2022, the Bills won the AFC East with a 13–3 record. A game against the Bengals was stopped because of a serious medical event with Damar Hamlin. He later recovered and returned to play. The Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 34–31 in the Wild Card Round. But they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 27–10 in the Divisional Round.
In 2023, the Bills won the AFC East for the fourth season in a row. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17 in the Wild Card Round. But they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in the Divisional Round. The Buffalo Bills also plan to build a new stadium by 2026.
Team Look: Logos and Uniforms
For their first two seasons, the Bills wore uniforms like those of the Detroit Lions. The team's first colors were Honolulu blue, silver, and white. Their helmets were silver with no stripes. They had players' numbers on each side.
In 1962, a standing red bison became the team's logo. It was placed on a white helmet. The team colors also changed to red, white, and blue. They wore blue jerseys with red and white shoulder stripes. The helmets were white with a red stripe down the middle. In 1964, the jerseys changed again. They had a special stripe pattern on the sleeves. By 1965, red and blue stripes were added to the helmets.
In 1973, the Bills started wearing blue pants with their white jerseys. This was the last year for the standing buffalo helmet. The blue pants were worn until 1985. The face mask on the helmet was blue from 1974 to 1986. Then it changed to white.
The standing bison logo was replaced in 1974. The new logo was a blue charging bison with a red stripe coming from its horn. This newer logo is still the main one used by the team. It was designed by Stevens Wright.
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In 1984, the helmet color changed from white to red. This was mainly to help Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson. It made it easier for him to tell his teammates apart from rivals. Many other teams had white helmets then.
In 2002, the Bills changed their uniforms a lot. A darker blue became the main jersey color. Nickel gray was added as an accent color. Both blue and white jerseys had red side panels. The helmet stayed red with different colored stripes. A new logo was suggested, but fans did not like it. So, the team kept the running bison logo from 1974.
In 2005, the Bills brought back the standing bison helmet and uniform from the mid-1960s. They wore it as a throwback uniform.
For the 2011 season, the Bills showed off a new uniform design. It was an updated version of their 1975–83 look. This change brought back white helmets with the "charging buffalo" logo. It also brought back royal blue instead of navy.
On November 12, 2015, the Bills and the New York Jets were the first teams to wear special "Color Rush" uniforms. Buffalo wore all-red for the first time in team history.
On April 1, 2021, the team announced they would wear white face masks.
Team Rivalries
The Bills have rivalries with their three AFC East opponents. These are the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. They also have rivalries with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.
Divisional Rivals
Miami Dolphins
This is often seen as Buffalo's most famous rivalry. Both the Bills and Dolphins started in the American Football League. But the Dolphins began playing in 1966, while the Bills were one of the original teams. The rivalry became big in the 1970s. The Dolphins won 20 games in a row against the Bills. This was an NFL record.
Things changed when Jim Kelly became the Bills' quarterback. Kelly and Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino had a great rivalry in the 1980s and 1990s. The Bills became very strong in the 1990s. The rivalry is not as intense now. But Miami is still a strong rival. Miami leads the overall series 62–58–1 as of 2023. But Buffalo has won more playoff games against them (4–1).
New England Patriots
The rivalry with the New England Patriots started when both teams were in the American Football League. But it became very important when New England quarterback Tom Brady arrived in 2001. Before the 2000s, the teams were very competitive. But Brady's arrival led to the Patriots dominating the AFC East for two decades. New England became Buffalo's most disliked rival.
The Bills have done much better since Brady left in 2020. They have a 7–2 record against the Patriots. This includes winning the AFC East title in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2021, the Bills won 47–17 against the Patriots in their first playoff game in 59 years. The Bills scored a touchdown on every offensive drive in that game. This is the only "perfect offensive game" in NFL history. Overall, the Patriots lead the series 78–50–1 as of 2023. But without Brady, the Bills lead 47–46–1.
New York Jets
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The Bills and Jets were both original AFL teams. Both represent New York. The Jets have played their home games in New Jersey since 1984. This rivalry shows the differences between New York City and Western New York. But it has not been as intense as the rivalries with the Dolphins and Patriots.
The Bills-Jets rivalry has often had tough games. But it has also had some exciting moments. The rivalry became more intense when former Jets coach Rex Ryan coached the Bills for two seasons. It also became notable again because Bills quarterback Josh Allen and former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold had a friendly rivalry. Buffalo leads the series 69–58 as of 2023. This includes a playoff win in 1981.
Conference Rivals
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are another original AFL team. They have a long history with the Bills. Buffalo leads the series 29–24–1. They have met five times in the playoffs. Three of these were AFL/AFC Championship Games. Kansas City won the 1966 AFL Championship Game and the 2020 AFC Championship Game. Buffalo beat Kansas City in the 1993 AFC Championship Game. After each of these wins, the Chiefs or Bills lost the Super Bowl.
The rivalry became very strong again in 2020 and 2021. They had four big games. This included the 2020 Championship Game and the 2021 Divisional round game. The 2021 game is considered one of the greatest playoff games ever. A rivalry has also grown between Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Jacksonville Jaguars
A new rivalry started between the Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars. This happened after former Bills coach Doug Marrone joined the Jaguars. He became their head coach. The first game between Marrone's Jaguars and the Bills was in London in 2015. The Jaguars won 34–31.
The most important game was a tough, low-scoring playoff game in 2017. The Jaguars won 10–3. This game was special because it was the Bills' first playoff game in 17 seasons. The series is currently tied at 10–10.
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers) have a long history with the Bills. Both teams were original AFL clubs. They were rivals in that league's East Division. Games were very intense in the 1990s. Quarterback Warren Moon led the Oilers against Jim Kelly's Bills.
Memorable playoff moments include "The Comeback". In 1992, the Bills came back from being down 35–3 to win 41–38. Another moment was the "Music City Miracle" in 1999. The Titans scored on a last-minute kickoff return to beat the Bills 22–16. This was Buffalo's last playoff appearance until 2017. The Titans currently lead the series 30–20.
Famous Players and Honors
Retired Numbers
The Buffalo Bills have retired three numbers. These are No. 12 for Jim Kelly, No. 34 for Thurman Thomas, and No. 78 for Bruce Smith. Even though only three numbers are officially retired, some other numbers are rarely used.
| Buffalo Bills Retired Numbers | ||||
| No. | Player | Position | Years Played | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Jim Kelly | QB | 1986–1996 | November 19, 2001 |
| 34 | Thurman Thomas | RB | 1988–1999 | October 30, 2018 |
| 78 | Bruce Smith | DE | 1985–1999 | September 15, 2016 |
- Numbers Used Less Often:
- 83 Andre Reed, WR, 1985–1999 (Only Lee Evans III wore No. 83 with special permission.)
The number 31 was not usually given to players for many years. It was meant to represent the "spirit of the team." It was only worn once in the first 30 years. In 1969, a player wore it briefly when his own jersey was damaged. The number 31 was used again in 1990. Now, Rasul Douglas wears number 31.
Number 32 was also not used after O. J. Simpson played. The original owner, Ralph Wilson, did not want it reissued. The number was put back into use in 2019. Now, Nicholas Morrow wears number 32.
Number 15 was rarely used after Jack Kemp retired. Number 1 has also been rarely used. Curtis Samuel currently wears number 1. Number 95 has not been used since Kyle Williams retired in 2019.
Wall of Fame
The Buffalo Bills have a "Wall of Fame" to honor important people in their history.
| Inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame | ||||
| Year Inducted | No. | Name | Position | Years with Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 32 | O. J. Simpson | RB | 1969–1977 |
| 1984 | 15 | Jack Kemp | QB | 1962–1969 |
| 1985 | – | Pat McGroder | Contributor GM |
1961–1983 1983 |
| 1987 | 70 | Tom Sestak | DT | 1962–1968 |
| 1988 | 66 | Billy Shaw | OG | 1961–1969 |
| 1989 | – | Ralph C. Wilson Jr. | Owner | 1959–2014 |
| 1992 | 12 | The 12th Man | Fans | 1960–present |
| 1993 | 44 | Elbert Dubenion | WR | 1960–1968 |
| 1994 | 58 | Mike Stratton | LB | 1962–1972 |
| 1995 | 12 | Joe Ferguson | QB | 1973–1984 |
| 1996 | – | Marv Levy | HC GM |
1986–1997 2006–2007 |
| 1997 | 68 | Joe DeLamielleure | OG | 1973–1979 1985 |
| 1998 | 20 | Robert James | CB | 1969–1974 |
| 1999 | – | Edward Abramoski | Trainer | 1960–1996 |
| 2000 | 61 | Bob Kalsu | G | 1968 |
| 26 | George Saimes | S | 1963–1969 | |
| 2001 | 12 | Jim Kelly | QB | 1986–1996 |
| 76 | Fred Smerlas | DT | 1979–1989 | |
| 2002 | 67 | Kent Hull | C | 1986–1996 |
| 2003 | 56 | Darryl Talley | LB | 1983–1994 |
| 2004 | 51 | Jim Ritcher | G | 1980–1993 |
| 2005 | 34 | Thurman Thomas | RB | 1988–1999 |
| 2006 | 83 | Andre Reed | WR | 1985–1999 |
| 2007 | 89 | Steve Tasker | WR | 1986–1997 |
| 2008 | 78 | Bruce Smith | DE | 1985–1999 |
| 2010 | 24 | Booker Edgerson | CB | 1962–1969 |
| 2011 | 90 | Phil Hansen | DE | 1991–2001 |
| 2012 | – | Bill Polian | GM | 1984–1992 |
| 2014 | – | Van Miller | Broadcaster | 1960–1971 1977–2003 |
| 2015 | – | Lou Saban | Coach | 1962–1965 1972–1976 |
| 2017 | 34 | Cookie Gilchrist | RB | 1962–1964 |
Pro Football Hall of Fame Members
Many Bills players, coaches, and owners have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Buffalo Bills Hall of Famers | ||||
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position | Years with Team | Year Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | O. J. Simpson | RB | 1969–1977 | 1985 |
| 66 | Billy Shaw | OG | 1961–1969 | 1999 |
| 12 | Jim Kelly | QB | 1986–1996 | 2002 |
| 80 | James Lofton | WR | 1989–1992 | 2003 |
| 68 | Joe DeLamielleure | OG | 1973–1979 1985 |
2003 |
| 34 | Thurman Thomas | RB | 1988–1999 | 2007 |
| 78 | Bruce Smith | DE | 1985–1999 | 2009 |
| 83 | Andre Reed | WR | 1985–1999 | 2014 |
| 81 | Terrell Owens | WR | 2009 | 2018 |
| Coaches and Executives | ||||
| Name | Position | Years with Team | Year Inducted | |
| Marv Levy | Head coach General Manager |
1986–1997 2006–2007 |
2001 | |
| Ralph Wilson | Owner | 1959–2014 | 2009 | |
| Bill Polian | General Manager | 1984–1992 | 2015 | |
Team Mascots, Music, and Fans
The Bills' official mascot is Billy Buffalo. He is an eight-foot-tall, blue American bison. He wears a jersey with "BB" on it.
The Bills do not have cheerleaders right now. They used to have a cheerleading squad called the Buffalo Jills. They stopped operating in 2014 due to legal reasons. A settlement was reached in 2022.
The Bills are one of six NFL teams with an official marching band or drumline. This is the Stampede Drumline, also known as Downbeat Percussion.
The Bills have several theme songs. The most popular is a version of "Shout" by Scott Kemper. It has been the Bills' official song since 1987. You can hear it at every home game after a score and when the Bills win. The Bills' unofficial fight song, "Go Bills," was written by coach Marv Levy in the mid-1990s.
Bills Mafia and Supporters
The "Bills Backers" are the official fan club of the Buffalo Bills. They have over 200 groups around the world. The "Bills Mafia" is another famous fan group. It started on Twitter in 2010. By 2017, "Bills Mafia" became a popular way to describe the entire community of Bills fans. Players who join the Bills often talk about joining the Bills Mafia.
Bills fans are known for wearing Zubaz zebra-printed sportswear. They also often wear "wing hats," which look like spicy chicken wings. These hats are similar to the Green Bay Packers' Cheesehead hats.
Bills Mafia members are also known for jumping off high places, like cars, onto folding tables before games. This is done in the style of professional wrestlers.
Bills fans are also known for supporting charities. After the Cincinnati Bengals helped the Bills make the playoffs in 2017, Bills fans donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bengals players' charities. In 2020, after a great game by quarterback Josh Allen, fans donated almost $700,000 to the Oishei Children's Hospital. This hospital is supported by Allen. After the Bills beat the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020–21 playoffs, fans donated to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's favorite charity.
Many famous people are Bills fans. These include ESPN announcer Chris Berman, who often uses the phrase, "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!" Also, late NBC political commentator Tim Russert was a big fan. CNN's Wolf Blitzer and CBS News anchor Jeff Glor are also fans. Actor William Fichtner is a fan and narrated a documentary about the Bills' Super Bowl appearances.
Images for kids
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Buffalo Bills wordmark
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Buffalo Bills logo
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Buffalo Bills Uniforms 2021-Present
