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American Football League awards Buffalo Bills franchise to Ralph C. Wilson

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area.

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Founded in 1959 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), the team joined the NFL in 1970 after the AFL–NFL merger. The team's name is taken from an All-America Football Conference (AAFC) franchise from Buffalo that was named after western frontiersman Buffalo Bill. Drawing much of its fanbase from western New York and neighboring southern Ontario, the Bills are the only NFL team that plays home games in the state of New York.

Historical Significance

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area.

Events Before

  1. The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

    The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

  2. Actress Jayne Mansfield and public relations manager Paul Mansfield's divorce is finalized, after 7-1/2 years of marriag

    Actress Jayne Mansfield and public relations manager Paul Mansfield's divorce is finalized, after 7-1/2 years of marriage

  3. "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis reaches #1 on the UK pop chart

    "Great Balls of Fire" is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree.

  4. American actress Jayne Mansfield (24) weds Hungarian-American bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay (32) at the Wayfarers Chapel i

    American actress Jayne Mansfield (24) weds Hungarian-American bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay (32) at the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California; divorce in 1964

  5. Actress Agnes Moorehead (57) divorces actor and film director Robert Gist (40) after 5 years of marriage

    Actress Agnes Moorehead (57) divorces actor and film director Robert Gist (40) after 5 years of marriage

Events After

  1. Fausto Coppi dies

    Fausto Coppi cyclist, known for italian cyclist, died on 1960-01-02. Angelo Fausto Coppi was an Italian cyclist, the dominant international cyclist of the years after the Second World War.

  2. A photograph of a 13-year-old South African boy in a torn vest working in a mine is published in the Daily Herald; emplo

    A photograph of a 13-year-old South African boy in a torn vest working in a mine is published in the Daily Herald; employing a 'native' under 18 in the mines is illegal under the Native Labour Regulation Act

  3. LaMar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts

    LaMar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts

  4. Comedic actor Bob Denver (25) weds Maggie Ryan in California

    Comedic actor Bob Denver (25) weds Maggie Ryan in California

  5. American songwriter Adolph Green (45) weds (for 3rd and final time) American actress and singer Phyllis Newman (24) in N

    American songwriter Adolph Green (45) weds (for 3rd and final time) American actress and singer Phyllis Newman (24) in NYC, until his death in 2002

More from the 1950s

Sputnik 1 Launch

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, igniting the Space Age and the US-Soviet Space Race.

space explorationscience technology

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

death

Emil Jannings dies

Emil Jannings, Swiss-born German actor, known for german actor, died on 1950-01-02. Emil Jannings was a Swiss-born German actor who was popular in Hollywood films in the 1920s.

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 28, 1959?
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
Why is American Football League awards Buffalo Bills franchise to Ralph C. Wilson significant?
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area.

Explore More

October 28 in HistoryYear 1959