Lou Saban - Head Coach

A former all-star linebacker with the Cleveland Browns, "Trader Lou" came to Buffalo from Boston as a head coach for the first time in 1962 and set to work building the Bills. In 1964 and 1965 the Bills went 12-2, and 10-3-1, enroute to consecutive AFL championships. He was named Coach of the Year twice, but one week after winning his second title, he quit to become head coach at Maryland. In 1971, Saban returned to Buffalo inheriting a 1-13 team. During his second stint, he doubled the number of carries per game for O.J. Simpson and assembled the "Electric Company," the offensive line that "turned on the juice." The Bills improved to 4-9 in 1972 and soared to 9-5 in 1973, the same year Simpson became the first pro back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. After building a team on the brink of greatness, player contract disputes, hold outs, injuries , and trades unravelled Saban's squad. He quit 4 games into the 1976 season. He is still the second winningest coach in team history behind Marv Levy, with only 1 losing season in the 8 he completed in Buffalo.

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