Buffalo Bills Timeline

Authors Budd Bailey and Greg Tranter visit the Pigpen in this episode to talk about their latest book titled : The Buffalo Bills: An Illustrated Timeline of a Storied Team and its unique way to preserve Western New York Football History in a chronological order of events!  

Still image of our August 2023 interview on the Bills Timeline Book

We are extremely honored to have had the oppoortunity to not only read the book The Buffalo Bills: An Illustrated Timeline of a Storied Team, but to have had the chance to pick both authors' brains on the history of the Bills as they shared some of their own personal experiences throughout the franchise's interesting history.

Here is more on the authors...

Greg Tranter Speaking at the PFRA Conference in July 2023

Budd Bailey

The retired journalist turned author has a passion for writing about sports. Read his recent posts Buffalo Sports Page & Learn more about him and his books here.

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Some of the most notable events in Buffalo Bills franchise history:

• Buffalo hosted more neutral site NFL games (27) prior to obtaining a League franchise than any other city.
• Founding October 28, 1959: The Buffalo Bills were founded in 1959  to play in the 1960 season as an expansion team in the American Football League (AFL).
• The team's first game was played on September 11, 1960, against the Boston Patriots. The Bills lost the game 23-10.
• First AFL Championship: The Bills won their first AFL Championship in 1964. The Bills defeated the San Diego Chargers 20-14 in the AFL Championship Game.
• Draft Day January 28, 1969 - The Bill with the number one overall selection picked USC Trojan running back O.J. Simpson.
• Four Straight Super Bowl Appearances: The Bills made history by appearing in four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990 to 1993. 

The Buffalo Bills: An Illustrated Timeline of a Storied Team covers these items and so much more!

Jack Kemp

Born July 13, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, was former pro football star and Congeressman Jack Kemp. Kemp was a professional quarterback for 13 years. He played briefly in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. His true gridiron career pinnacle point though was in the American Football League, where he served as captain of both the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills and earned the AFL Most Valuable Player award in 1965 after leading the Bills to a second consecutive championship.

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Jim Kelly

Born February 14, 1960 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The outstanding quarterback from the Miami Hurciane’s program Jim Kelly was born. The Buffalo Bills selected Kelly in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft but the signal caller decided to sign with the USFL’s Houston Gamblers franchise instead. The 6’-4” 225 quarterback spent two seasons with the Gamblers and threw for 9,842 yards and a whopping 83 touchdowns per the ProFootballHOF.com website. When the USFL folded Jim signed on with the NFL team that originally drafted him, the Bills in 1986. It was a perfect fit for both parties as Kelly ran the famed “no Huddle” fast paced offense of Coach Marv Levy to a tee. Having offensive weapons like running back Thurmon Thomas and receivers Andre Reid and James Lofton didn’t hurt either. The Bills played in four straight Super Bowls in the 1990’s led by Kelly’s arm. In Jim’s 11 seasons with the Bills, he led the Bills to the AFC playoffs eight times. In those 17 playoff appearances, including four the Super Bowls, Kelly tossed the ball for 3,863 yards and 21 touchdowns! Jim Kelly was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Thurman Thomas

Born May 16, 1966, in Houston, Texas, was Oklahoma State running back from 1984 through the 1987 season, Thurman Thomas. For his collegiate career Thurman Thomas amassed 4,847 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns at Oklahoma State, catapulting him into school and conference record books. His career rushing yardage is second best all-time in the conference, trailing only 2006 College Football Hall of Famer Mike Rozier of Nebraska. Thurman Thomas’ collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2008. The Buffalo Bills wisely selected Thomas in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. Thurman received the great honor of being the NFL MVP in 1991 and according to the ProFootballHOF.com website he recorded eight consecutive 1000 yard seasons running with the ball. Thomas retired as the NFL's ninth-ranked rusher with 12,074 yards and added another 4,458 yards on 472 catches. He scored 65 rushing and 23 receiving touchdowns in his 13-season career.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the brilliant NFL career of Thurmon Thomas in 2007.

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O.J. Simpson

Born July 9, 1947 - San Francisco, California - O. J. Simpson the legendary Southern California running Back of the seasons of 1967 and 1968. O.J. Simpson Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back that played for the Buffalo Bills. Simpson held the NFL single season rushing record of 2003 yards until Eric Dickerson broke that record a few decades later. Known as "the Juice" he played college ball at USC. According to the National Football Foundation, in 1968, O.J. carried the ball 355 times for 1709 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading USC to a 9-0-1 regular season record, equalling or bettering a long list of USC records. Again, he was named to scores of All-America first teams and was granted 21 awards, including Rose Bowl MVP, the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award.After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1968 the College Football Hall of Fame inducted them into their museum in 1983's class. Juice went into broadcasting and even acting after his NFL career was over.

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Bruce Smith

Born June 18, 1963 - Norfolk, Virginia - Virginia Tech’s defensive end from 1981 to 1984, Bruce B. Smith was born. When Smith came to Virginia Tech, the Hokies were a mediocre program. His play helped boost the program's profile into the decades of subsequent success per the NFF. Smith had a rare combination of strength, quickness and raw talent that played very nicely into his success on the defensive line. Injury forced Bruce Smith to miss most of his freshman season but as a sophomore Smith had eight sacks and in his junior year he became a first team All-America selection adding 22 sacks to his resume. He capped off his senior year with 16 more QB take downs behind the line.. Bruce was honored as a consensus All-America selection and won the Outland Trophy. Over his career, his 46 sacks and 71 tackles for loss resulted in an incredible total of 504 yards lost. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Bruce Smith into their legendary museum in 2006. In the 1985 NFL draft he was the first player taken overall by the Buffalo Bills. He was named the defensive Rookie of the Year. When his 19-year pro career ended he sat on top of the game's all-time sack list with 200. He was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times. The Pro Football Hall of Fame shares how the Bills teams that won six AFC Eastern Division championships and four AFC titles, many observers feel that 1990 was Smith’s finest season. That year he recorded 19 quarterback sacks and his dominant play frequently changed the complexion of the game. Smith’s 13 seasons with 10 or more sacks is also an NFL record.. Bruce Smith was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

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Buffalo has had more than its fair share of heartbreaks through out the years as a Pro Football Team. They have also had some to f top names at quarterback as well. Besides Jim Kelly and Jack Kempo that we have already mentioned how about these names at signal caller:

• Doug Flutie
• Drew Bledsoe
• Joe Ferguson
• Ryan Fitzpatrick
• Frank Reich
• Tyrod Taylor
• Daryle Lamonica
• Willie Totten
• Dan Darragh
• Vince Ferragamo
• Ed Rutkowski

And that is just a few! They have certainly seen some good ons on the roster in Buffalo.

Thanks to Greg Tranter and Budd Bailey along with Reedy Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Buffalo Bills: An Illustrated Timeline of a Storied team to prepare for the interview.

Many of the images above are taken by the steady hand of Darin Hayes

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