Editing Buffalo Bills (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of the Buffalo Bills|List of Buffalo Bills seasons}}
The Bills began competitive play in 1960 as a charter member of the [[American Football League]] led by head coach [[Buster Ramsey]] and joined the NFL as part of the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in 1970.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/stats/franchises.aspx |title=History: History of NFL franchises, 1920–present |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102074644/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/stats/franchises.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> In the first two seasons, the Bills went 5–8–1 and 6–8 under Ramsey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1960 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1960.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1961 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1961.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Bills won two consecutive American Football League titles in [[1964 American Football League Championship Game|1964]] and [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|1965]] with quarterback [[Jack Kemp]] and coach [[Lou Saban]], but the club has yet to win a league championship since.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 AFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964_AFL/index.htm |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 AFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965_AFL/index.htm |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 29 - O.J. Simpson (O.J. Simpson crop).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|Running back [[O. J. Simpson]], the face of the Bills franchise for most of the 1970s, pictured breaking the NFL's single-season rushing record in 1973]]
Once the [[AFL–NFL merger]] took effect, the Bills became the second NFL team to represent the city; they followed the [[Buffalo All-Americans]], a charter member of the league.<ref name="z825">{{cite web |last=Bava |first=John |title=The Buffalo All-Americans and the Story of the Staley Swindle |website=Last Word on Pro Football |date=June 23, 2019 |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2019/06/23/buffalo-all-americans-staley-swindle/ |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> Buffalo had been left out of the league since the All-Americans (by that point renamed the Bisons) folded in 1929; the Bills were no less than the third professional non-NFL team to compete in the city before the merger, following the [[Buffalo Indians|Indians/Tigers]] of the early 1940s and [[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|an earlier team named the Bills]], originally the Bisons, in the late 1940s in the [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC).

Following the AFL–NFL merger, the Bills were generally mediocre in the 1970s but featured All-Pro running back [[O. J. Simpson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=O.J. Simpson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpO.00.htm |access-date=August 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After being pushed to the brink of failure in the mid-1980s, the collapse of the [[United States Football League]]<ref name="w991">{{cite web |title=A football league that collapsed spectacularly in the 1980s is coming back |website=NPR |date=April 15, 2022 |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/15/1093005998/a-football-league-that-collapsed-spectacularly-in-the-1980s-is-coming-back |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> and a series of highly drafted players such as [[Jim Kelly]] (who initially played for the USFL instead of the Bills), [[Thurman Thomas]], [[Bruce Smith]] and [[Darryl Talley]] allowed the Bills to rebuild into a perennial contender in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s under head coach Marv Levy, a period in which the team won four consecutive [[AFC Championship Game|AFC Championships]]; the team nevertheless lost all four subsequent [[Super Bowl]]s, records in both categories that still stand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/ |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="s668">{{cite web |title=SUPER BOWL XXVIII; It's Fourth-and-Heartbreak as the Bills Lose One More |website=The New York Times |date=January 31, 1994 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/31/sports/super-bowl-xxviii-it-s-fourth-and-heartbreak-as-the-bills-lose-one-more.html |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref name="d364">{{cite web |last=Rush |first=Curtis |title=Looking Back At Marv Levy, Who Was Hired By The Bills On This Date In 1986 |website=Forbes |date=November 3, 2019 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtisrush/2019/11/03/looking-back-at-marv-levy-who-was-hired-by-the-bills-on-this-date-in-1986/#:~:text=In%2012%20years%20with%20the,Hall%20of%20Fame%20in%202001. |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref>

The rise of the division rival [[New England Patriots]] under [[Bill Belichick]] and [[Tom Brady]], along with numerous failed attempts at rebuilding in the 2000s and 2010s, helped prevent the Bills from reaching the playoffs in seventeen consecutive seasons between 2000 and 2016, a 17-year drought that was the longest active playoff drought in all major professional sports at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benne |first=Jon |date=December 31, 2017 |title=The Bills finally ended their 17-year playoff drought, with help from the Bengals |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/12/31/16831230/bills-playoffs-drought-1999-tyrod-taylor-sean-mcdermott-lesean-mccoy |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="u121">{{cite web |last=Randall |first=Dakota |title=By The Numbers: Tom Brady's Patriots Career Featured Bills Dominance |website=NESN.com |date=November 30, 2022 |url=https://nesn.com/2022/11/tom-brady-dominance-of-bills-patriots-career-hard-to-fathom/ |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref>

Mike Mularkey coached the Bills in the 2004 and 2005 seasons.<ref name="p489">{{cite web |last=Clayton |first=John |title=Buffalo decides on Mularkey as next coach |website=ESPN.com |date=January 14, 2004 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=1707870 |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> He went 9–7 but missed the postseason in 2004 and 5–11 in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Mularkey Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MulaMi0.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He resigned from the team following the 2005 season.<ref name="o086">{{cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |title=Mularkey resigns as Bills' head coach |website=ESPN.com |date=January 12, 2006 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2289987 |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref>

From 2006 to 2009, the Bills were coached by Dick Jauron.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2006 |title=Bills are Jauron's second chance as coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2303162 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> Following three consecutive 7–9 seasons, Jauron was dismissed after a 3–6 start to his fourth season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dick Jauron Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/JaurDi0.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="i865">{{cite web |last=Clayton |first=John |title=Struggling Bills fire coach Jauron after 3-6 start |website=ESPN.com |date=November 17, 2009 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4664167 |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> Perry Fewell finished out the season as interim with a 3–4 mark.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2010 |title=Reports: Bills start makeover by firing staff |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4794978 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

From 2010 to 2012, the Bills were coached by Chan Gailey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2010 |title=Bills hire ex-Cowboys coach Gailey |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4838361 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> The team had Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback in those seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryan Fitzpatrick Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FitzRy00.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Gailey was fired after three consecutive last place finishes in the AFC East.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2012 |title=Bills fire Gailey after missing playoffs yet again |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8795820/buffalo-bills-fire-chan-gailey-missing-playoffs-yet-again |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

Doug Marrone was hired to be the Bills' head coach prior to the 2013 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mortensen |first=Chris |date=January 7, 2013 |title=Marrone 'dying to go to work' as Bills coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8820882/doug-marrone-hired-buffalo-bills |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> The Bills went 6–10 in the 2013 season and improved to 9–7 in the 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2013.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2014.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Marrone decided to step down as head coach following the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2014 |title=Doug Marrone steps down as coach of Bills |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story?id=12104866&src=desktop |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> On October 8, 2014, [[Buffalo Sabres]] owners Terry and Kim Pegula received unanimous approval to acquire the Bills during the NFL owners' meetings, becoming the second ownership group of the team after team founder [[Ralph Wilson]].<ref name="SesslerBills" /> After Kim was incapacitated by a 2022 vascular brain injury, a portion of her stake in the team was transferred to her stepdaugher Laura,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Tim |date=May 1, 2024 |title=Terry Pegula transferred small percentage of Bills to daughter Laura Pegula |url=https://theathletic.com/5465268/2024/05/01/bills-terry-pegula-ownership-transfer-daughter/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> with a 20% stake in the team sold to a coalition of [[private equity]] investors and former Toronto athletes [[Jozy Altidore]], [[Vince Carter]] and [[Tracy McGrady]] in December 2024.<ref name=newminority>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Brayton |date=December 11, 2024 |title=NFL approves new minority ownership group for Bills |url=https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/bills/nfl-approves-new-minority-ownership-group-for-bills |access-date=December 11, 2024 |website=[[WBEN (AM)|WBEN]] |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the 2015 season, the team hired former Jets' head coach Rex Ryan to become the next head coach of the Bills.<ref name="e003">{{cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |title=Bills go with 'best fit,' hire Rex Ryan as coach |website=ESPN.com |date=January 12, 2015 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12154002/buffalo-bills-hire-rex-ryan-next-head-coach |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> The team went 8–8 in 2015 and 7–9 in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2015.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2016.htm |access-date=August 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Ryan was dismissed with one game remaining in the 2016 season, with Anthony Lynn finishing the season as interim.<ref name="h911">{{cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |title=Bills fire Rex Ryan as playoff drought reaches 17 |website=ESPN.com |date=December 27, 2016 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18357761/buffalo-bills-fire-head-coach-rex-ryan |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref>

===Sean McDermott era (2017–present)===
Under head coach Sean McDermott,<ref name="g788">{{cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |title=Bills turn to McDermott to end playoff drought |website=ESPN.com |date=January 11, 2017 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18453441/buffalo-bills-agree-hire-sean-mcdermott-head-coach |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> the Bills broke the playoff drought, appearing in the playoffs for six of the next seven seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buffalo Bills Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/playoffs.htm |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The team drafted Wyoming quarterback [[Josh Allen]] with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.<ref name="e344">{{cite web |last=La Canfora |first=Jason |title=How the Bills shocked themselves and landed Josh Allen, Tremaine Edmunds in 2018 NFL Draft |website=CBSSports.com |date=July 15, 2018 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/how-the-bills-shocked-themselves-and-landed-josh-allen-tremaine-edmunds-in-2018-nfl-draft/ |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> The team earned its first division championship and playoff wins since 1995 during the 2020 season, aided by Brady's departure to [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay]] and out of the AFC East, as well as the Bills' own development of a core of talent including Allen, [[Stefon Diggs]], [[Matt Milano]], and [[Tre'Davious White]].<ref name="b391">{{cite web |last=Farmer |first=Sam |title=Tom Brady is leaving the Patriots for the Buccaneers |website=Los Angeles Times |date=March 18, 2020 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-17/tom-brady-is-leaving-the-patriots-for-the-buccaneers |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Buffalo Bills clinch AFC East title for first time since 1995 following dominant win over Broncos |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/buffalo-bills-clinch-afc-east-title-for-first-time-since-1995-following-dominant |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In the 2020 season, the Bills reached the AFC Championship for the first time since the 1993 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reiss |first=Mike |date=January 17, 2021 |title=Bills' 'vision' continues on to AFC championship |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30726883/buffalo-bills-beat-baltimore-ravens-advance-first-afc-championship-game-1993-season |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> However, their run ended with a 38–24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101240kan.htm |access-date=July 18, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Bills won the AFC East with a 11–6 record in the 2021 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2021.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Bills defeated the Patriots 47–17 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs [[2021 AFC Divisional playoff game (Buffalo–Kansas City)|42–36 in overtime]].<ref name="v254">{{cite web |last=Bronstein |first=Jonah |title=Patriots, Jones end season with a dud in 47-17 loss to Bills |website=AP News |date=January 16, 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-tom-brady-buffalo-new-england-patriots-6659e76cf4b452d8fd9fdfe84539ceca |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref name="j316">{{cite web |last=Skretta |first=Dave |title=Chiefs rally past Buffalo 42-36 in OT in wild playoff game |website=AP News |date=January 24, 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/cincinnati-bengals-kansas-city-chiefs-buffalo-bills-nfl-sports-060041ec1dd4c9bea035ca7283fa5e7a |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>

In the 2022 season, the Bills won the AFC East with a 13–3 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2022.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The season saw a cancelled game against the Bengals due to a near-fatal medical episode with Damar Hamlin, who eventually recovered and returned to football activities the following season.<ref name="u662">{{cite web |last=Getzenberg |first=Alaina |title=Bills say Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in game |website=ESPN.com |date=January 3, 2023 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35368372/damar-hamlin-collapses-field-bills-bengals-temporarily-suspended |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref><ref name="w150">{{cite web |last1=Sterling |first1=Wayne |last2=Dotson |first2=Kevin |title=Damar Hamlin returns to NFL action after cardiac arrest |website=CNN |date=October 1, 2023 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/01/sport/damar-hamlin-active-roster-spt-intl/index.html#:~:text=Hamlin%20was%20fully%20cleared%20to,game%20against%20the%20Indianapolis%20Colts. |access-date=August 18, 2024}}</ref> The team defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round 34–31 before falling to the Cincinnati Bengals 27–10 in the Divisional Round.<ref name="t121">{{cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |title=NFL roundup: Josh Allen overcomes three turnovers in Bills' playoff win |website=Los Angeles Times |date=January 15, 2023 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-01-15/josh-allen-bills-dolphins-nfl-playoff-recap |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref name="l680">{{cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |title=Joe Burrow and the Bengals overcome the elements to reach AFC title game again |website=Los Angeles Times |date=January 22, 2023 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-01-22/joe-burrow-bengals-bills-afc-division-playoffs-recap |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref> In the 2023 season, the Bills won the AFC East for the fourth consecutive season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2023.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the Wild Card Round, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–17 before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round 27–24.<ref name="l472">{{cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |title=Josh Allen, Bills dispatch Steelers 31-17 in playoff game delayed a day by snow. Chiefs up next |website=AP News |date=January 16, 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/steelers-bills-score-playoffs-91cf43b74e25f72069e6891cc6af4f61 |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref><ref name="a328">{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Nate |title=Chiefs revel in road victory in front of raucous Bills fans: 'The environment was crazy' |website=New York Times |date=January 22, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5218329/2024/01/22/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-road-win-bills/ |access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref> In the 2024 season, the Bills finished with a 13–4 record and won another AFC East title.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2024.htm |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Following wins over the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card Round and the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round, the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.<ref name="m109">{{cite web | last=Wawrow | first=John | title=Josh Allen leads balanced offense as Bills dominate Broncos for 31-7 wild-card win | website=AP News | date=2025-01-12 | url=https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bills-playoffs-score-0519472b100dbacf96e8204dba436ffb | access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref><ref name="k401">{{cite web | last=Wawrow | first=John | title=Josh Allen scores 2 TDs, Bills force 3 turnovers to beat Ravens 27-25 and reach AFC title game | website=AP News | date=2025-01-20 | url=https://apnews.com/article/ravens-bills-playoffs-score-d51389973b294ff4962efa8f951c1087 | access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref><ref name="i220">{{cite web | last=Skretta | first=Dave | title=Once again, the Bills play the Chiefs down to the wire, only to come up short of the Super Bowl | website=AP News | date=2025-01-27 | url=https://apnews.com/article/bills-chiefs-josh-allen-sean-mcdermott-a8efc2f6ffcac9b8f42a334ab268f503 | access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref> The Bills announced plans to build a [[New Highmark Stadium|new stadium]] to replace Highmark Stadium to be ready by 2026.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Licciardi |first=Anthony |date=February 15, 2024 |title=Bills Reveal Key Details for New Stadium: 'Loud And Intimidating' |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/news/buffalo-bills-reveal-key-details-new-highmark-stadium |access-date=July 18, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref>