1968 Buffalo Bills season

9th season in franchise history November 2013 February 2026 Buffalo Bills 1968 1–12–1 5th AFL Eastern Joe Collier and Harvey Johnson Ralph Wilson War Memorial Stadium Did not qualify Bills seasons The 1968 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s ninth season. The Bills' 1–12–1 record in 1968 (a 0.107 winning percentage) is the second-worst in team history: the 1971 Bills went 1–13. They were one of only two teams in AFL history (the other being the 1962 Oakland Raiders) to finish the season with only one victory. The record landed the Bills with the first overall pick in the draft, which they used to take 1968 Heisman Trophy winner O. J. Simpson from USC. The Bills, coming off a 4–10 season in 1967, fired coach Joe Collier after an 0–2 start in 1968. Defensive backfield coach Harvey Johnson was promoted to interim head coach,Johnson would be promoted to head coach again before the 1971 season where he went 1–10–1 to finish the year.Johnson resumed his defensive coaching duties under John Rauch in 1969, but would later be promoted to head coach again for one year in 1971. With the release of running back Wray Carlton, wide receiver Elbert Dubenion was the last player from the Bills' original roster in 1960 to still be with the team. The majority of Buffalo's games were started by backup quarterback Dan Darragh, after injuries claimed the seasons of long-time starter Jack Kemp and new addition Tom Flores. Even Darragh and new addition Kay Stephenson were injured. Ultimately, running back Ed Rutkowski, who hadn't played the quarterback position since college six years prior, ended up starting at quarterback for the Bills.[Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p.144, Martin's Press, August 1994, 0-312-11073-1 Buffalo's only win of the season was a home victory over the New York Jets, who eventually went on to win Super Bowl III. In that game, the Bills held a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter before giving up two late touchdowns to the Jets. Ultimately, the Bills were able to hold on to the two-point win.Pro-Football-Reference: New York Jets 35 at Buffalo Bills 37, Sunday, September 29, 1968 Through the 2025 season, this is the only instance in which a team that had only 1 win have that win come against the eventual Super Bowl champion. Offseason August 24: Bills sign fullback Wayne Patrick.Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.392, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, 978-1-55022-797-0 August 27: Bills acquire quarterback (and future Bills head coach) Kay Stephenson from the San Diego Chargers for a Fifth Round Pick. August 28: Bills acquire fullback Bob Cappadona from the Boston Patriots for a ninth round draft pick. September 2: The Bills cut running backs Wray Carlton, wide receiver Ed Rutkowski (who would return later in the season as a quarterback), tight end Charley Ferguson and defensive tackle Dudley Meredith.Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.393, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, 978-1-55022-797-0 AFL draft 1968 Buffalo Bills 1 9 Haven Moses Wide receiver San Diego State yes yes 2 34 Bob Tatarek Defensive tackle Miami (FL) yes 3 63 Richard Trapp Wide receiver Florida yes 4 86 Edgar Chandler Linebacker Georgia yes 5 114 Ben Gregory Running back Nebraska yes 5 119 Mike McBath Defensive end Penn State yes 5 132 Max Anderson Running back Arizona State yes 7 173 Pete Richardson Safety Dayton yes 8 199 Bob Kalsu Guard Oklahoma yes 9 227 Gary McDermott Running back Tulsa yes yes no Personnel Coaches/Staff 1968 Buffalo Bills staff Front office Majority Owner/President – Ralph Wilson Vice President and General Manager – Bob Lustig Vice President/Minority Owner – Pat McGroder Coaching staff Head Coach - Joe Collier (fired earlier in season) Interim Head Coach - Harvey Johnson Offensive coaches Wide Receivers - John Mazur & Bob Celeri Offensive Backfield Coach - John Mazur Offensive Line – Jerry Smith & Marvin Bass Defensive coaches Defensive Backfield – Richie McCabe Kickers - Harvey Johnson Source: https://pro-football-history.com/franchise/7/buffalo-bills-coaches Final roster 1968 Buffalo Bills 10 Dan Darragh y  3 Benny Russell 22 Max Anderson American football y 23 Charlie Brown defensive back 36 Bob Cappadona 32 Gary McDermott y 30 Wayne Patrick y 40 Ed Rutkowski QB 83 Bobby Crockett 43 Monte Ledbetter 25 Haven Moses y 28 Richard Trapp y 82 Paul Costa American football 87 Billy Masters American football 77 Stew Barber T 50 Al Bemiller C/G 62 Dick Cunningham American football T 63 George Flint American football G 61 Bob Kalsu y G 73 Howard Kindig C 76 Mike McBath y T 66 Billy Shaw G 89 Tom Day American football DE 78 Jim Dunaway DT 72 Ron McDole DE 70 Tom Sestak DT 71 Bob Tatarek y DT 52 Edgar Chandler y MLB 59 Paul Guidry OLB 64 Harry Jacobs American football MLB 57 Marty Schottenheimer OLB 58 Mike Stratton OLB 42 Butch Byrd CB 45 Hagood Clarke FS 27 Tom Janik SS 21 Jerry Lawson no y CB 48 John Pitts American football SS 26 George Saimes FS 46 Bruce Alford Jr. K 55 Paul Maguire P -- Wayne DeSutter T Military 74 Chuck DeVleigher y DT IR 44 Elbert Dubenion WR (Retired) 7px 24 Booker Edgerson CB IR 16 Tom Flores QB IR 33 Ben Gregory y RB IR 79 Dick Hudson American football, born 1940 T IR 15 Jack Kemp QB IR 67 Joe O'Donnell American football G IR 18 Kay Stephenson QB IR 88 Bill Wilkerson no DE IR 80 Charley Ferguson TE Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 5 Detroit Lions W 13–9 1–0 War Memorial StadiumRecap 2 August 11 Miami Dolphins T 28–281–0–1 War Memorial StadiumRecap 3 August 17 Cincinnati Bengals L 6–10 1–1–1 Nippert StadiumRecap 4 August 23 Houston Oilers L 7–37 1–2–1 AstrodomeRecap 5 August 30 Cleveland Browns L 12–221–3–1 War Memorial StadiumRecap Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Boston Patriots L 7–16 0–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap 2 September 15 Oakland Raiders L 6–480–2 War Memorial Stadium Recap 3 September 22 at Cincinnati Bengals L 23–34 0–3Nippert Stadium Recap 4 September 29 New York Jets W 37–351–3 War Memorial Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Kansas City Chiefs L 7–18 1–4 War Memorial Stadium Recap 6 October 12 at Miami Dolphins T 14–141–4–1Miami Orange Bowl Recap 7 October 20 at Boston Patriots L 6–231–5–1Fenway Park Recap 8 October 27 Houston Oilers L 7–301–6–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap 9 November 3 at New York Jets L 21–251–7–1Shea Stadium Recap 10 November 10 Miami Dolphins L 17–23 1–8–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap 11 November 17 San Diego Chargers L 6–211–9–1 War Memorial Stadium Recap 12 November 24 at Denver Broncos L 32–34 1–10–1 Mile High Stadium Recap 13 November 28 at Oakland Raiders L 10-13 1–11–1Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Recap 14 December 7 at Houston OilersL 6–351–12–1Astrodome Recap Standings Game summaries Week 12 vs. Raiders Buffalo Bills 1968 2; text-align:center collapsed Buffalo Bills (1–10–1) at Oakland Raiders (9–2) November 28 Thursday Bills 0 3 0 7 Raiders 0 3 10 0 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California 39,883 54 F C • Wind 5 Pro-Football-Reference.com Bills Ed Rutkowski10/25, 160 Yds, 2 INT Max Anderson11 Rush, 60 Yds, TD2 Rec, 31 Yds Raiders Daryle Lamonica12/32, 145 Yds, INT Charlie Smith12 Rush, 54 Yds Warren Wells3 Rec, 61 Yds Thanksgiving Day BUF OAK collapsed 2 Raiders FG 39 Blanda 0 3 2 Bills FG 26 Alford 3 3 3 Raiders FG 33 Blanda 3 6 3 Raiders IntTD Atkinson 33 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 3 13 4 Bills RushTD Anderson 5 good Alford run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 13 10 13 Awards and Records Bob Kalsu, Team Rookie of the YearRockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.513, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, 978-1-55022-797-0 References 35em Further reading Jeffrey J. Miller, Rockin' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. Toronto, ON: ECW Press, 2007. Jeffrey J. Miller and Greg D. Tranter, Relics: The History of The Buffalo Bills in Objects and Memorabilia. Haworth, NJ: St. Johann Press, 2021. Sal Maiorana, Buffalo Bills: The Complete Illustrated History. Minneapolis, MN: MVP Books, 2010. Buffalo Bills Category:Buffalo Bills seasons Buffalo