So where the heck did our team get the name "Bills" from?

[Cleve]

Something I've wondered for many years - what the heck is a "Bill" as relates to a football team?

Every other NFL team has a name that makes 'sense' - either it's geographically relevant or it relates to some sort of aggressive, predatory creature, or it's suggestive of speed or size, or power, etc etc etc.

However, the name "Bills" doesn't really bring any sort of positive mental imagery to mind. Hell, even Buffalo's minor league baseball team - the Bisons - has a better name, IMHO.

So what the deuce is a "Bill" as it relates to this team? Was the first Buffalo football team resplendent with gentlemen of the first name "William"? Or is there some other explanation?

[imbondz]

it's just a reference to a dollar bill.

[Typ0]

it's just a reference to a dollar bill.


LMAO. Wilson had a good brain at one time.

[BillsOwnAll]

wasnt it from that guy "buffalo bill"?

[TacklingDummy]

Fans picked it over Bullets.

[TacklingDummy]

The "Bill" came from legendary Indian Scout William "Buffalo Bill" Cody helped trailblaze the American Frontier, the football team (owned by the president of Frontier Oil) was opening a new frontier in Buffalo sports.

[ddaryl]

Buffalo Bill was the inspiration..

[MidnightVoice]

It was better than the alternative - Buffalo nine dots and dash

[Typ0]

. . . -- -- -- . . .



It would look awesome on the helmut.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Here's the full story.

The Buffalo Bills name was first adopted by a football team in 1947. When the AAFC Buffalo team wanted to change its name to something different than Bisons (the stock name was already in use by a baseball and hockey team at the time), they decided to make the change to "Buffalo Bills" in an apparent reference to the famous Wild West showman Buffalo Bill Cody. There's a barbershop quartet that used the "Buffalo Bills" name that was founded in the same year (1947), but who used the name first, or if one inspired the other, isn't clear.

In 1950, the Bills made an effort to join the NFL, but were rejected. They were the only AAFC market that didn't get an NFL team. The Cleveland Browns ended up buying the remains of the team.

Then, in 1960, the Browns were up for sale and Ralph Wilson had just gotten the AFL franchise for Buffalo. When Art Modell bought the Browns, apparently he didn't want the Bills trademark rights (either that or he just allowed the trademarks to lapse). Wilson acquired the Buffalo Bills basically for free, after the fans said they wanted a revival of the Bills name.

So there's your story.

[DMBcrew36]

Is this a joke? People have never heard of 'Buffalo Bill' Cody? Learn your history people...

[chernobylwraiths]

Naming contest.

Thank God it wasn't the redundant name of the baseball farm team.

[Cleve]

Ah-ha, I see - Buffalo Bill Cody was the inspiration

Guess I never made the connection because Buffalo Bill was a unique individual - whereas the other NFL team names refer to groups of people, animals, etc. Ahh well....

[BillyT92679]

Yeah, the old AAFC team was named after Cody and then they named this iteration of the Bills in a contest.

Buffalo Bill Cody is a legend.

[BillyT92679]

Buffalo had an NFL team decades before the AAFC team. So did Rochester (the Jeffersons) and even Tonawanda had an NFL team called the Kardex

[Griff]

if we ever renamed, I thought Buffalo Blizzard would be fitting.

but it sounds a little XFL

[chernobylwraiths]

Ah-ha, I see - Buffalo Bill Cody was the inspiration

Guess I never made the connection because Buffalo Bill was a unique individual - whereas the other NFL team names refer to groups of people, animals, etc. Ahh well....

Since the city name is an animal, that was already covered.

If you think about it though, Buffalo Bill almost killed all the buffalo to extinction, and Ralph Wilson has said that if the Bills move, it would kill Buffalo... :scratch:

[chernobylwraiths]

if we ever renamed, I thought Buffalo Blizzard would be fitting.

but it sounds a little XFL

Or like the old indoor soccer league team.

[unpaid_bills]

Since the city name is an animal, that was already covered.

If you think about it though, Buffalo Bill almost killed all the buffalo to extinction, and Ralph Wilson has said that if the Bills move, it would kill Buffalo... :scratch:

Or another way to say it .... Ralph Wilson is nearly extinct and Buffalo has been playing (the past 10 years) if they were dead

[darthokeefe]

OK we could go with an intimidating name the the Browns....

[JD]

The "Bill" came from legendary Indian Scout William "Buffalo Bill" Cody helped trailblaze the American Frontier, the football team (owned by the president of Frontier Oil) was opening a new frontier in Buffalo sports.
Change the name! It's clearly a curse.

[Historian]

Cody is actually on the cover of the 61, 62 and 63 media guides.

[ddaryl]

Is this a joke? People have never heard of 'Buffalo Bill' Cody? Learn your history people...


There are lots of newer young Bills fans who probably have no idea who Buffalo Bill was.

It's not like he is a big part of history, just a footnote.

Heck I only know him by name mostly. Couldn't even tell ya much about him. I beleive he was a showman

[Nighthawk]

if we ever renamed, I thought Buffalo Blizzard would be fitting.

but it sounds a little XFL

Or like the name of the soccer team we once had...

[Nighthawk]

Cody is actually on the cover of the 61, 62 and 63 media guides.

And was cool as hell looking...they should use it again...gives this franchise more character.

[justasportsfan]

better than being named after a gay shark.

[LtFinFan66]

better than being named after a gay shark.I expect better from you Justa....this is just....weak. You better step up your game

[Historian]

better than being named after a gay shark.

Justa :posrep:

[Oaf]

Buffalo Blue Wings?

[whkfc]

And was cool as hell looking...they should use it again...gives this franchise more character.


Nota fan of Billy Buffalo?