Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson died Tuesday. The NFL's longest tenured owner leaves behind a football legacy as rich as anyone's. Quite literally, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today if not for Wilson's remarkable foresight and penchant for daring decisions.
1959: Becomes a founding member of the "Foolish Club"
In 1959, Wilson learned of Lamar Hunt's plans to create the American Football League, a professional football league positioned to compete with the NFL. Wilson sent Hunt a simple message via telegram: "Count me in with Buffalo."
Wilson purchased the Bills for $25,000 in 1959, the equivalent of $200,000 today. The Bills' current estimated worth is in the range of $900 million. In other words, Wilson was a shrewd businessman.
Wilson and Hunt, along with the six other original AFL owners, dubbed themselves the "Foolish Club" for attempting such a risky business endeavor, but their plan was a success - though not without Wilson guiding the league through turbulent early seasons.
The AFL eventually established itself as a viable competitor to the NFL, and a merger between the two leagues was negotiated in 1966.
"The Foolish Club". Ralph Wilson standing behind Bud Adams here pic.twitter.com/z9037IJR6Q
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) March 25, 2014
1964-65: AFL titles
The Bills delivered AFL titles to the city of Buffalo in 1964 and 1965 - the last major professional sports titles for the city.
The Bills defeated the Chargers 20-7 in '64 and then topped the performance with a 23-0 shutout in a rematch in '65.
1987: Refusal to trade Jim Kelly
Wilson wasn't just a clever businessman, he was a talented football mind. In 1987, he turned down numerous tempting trade offers for USFL star quarterback Jim Kelly, whom the Bills owned the rights to, saying he wouldn't move "the cornerstone of the franchise."
Chris Brown of the Buffalo Bills' official website tells the story:
Kelly would play two seasons for the Gamblers putting up monstrous offensive stats completing over 63 percent of his passes for 9,842 yards, 83 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. All the while Kelly’s agent tried to convince Ralph Wilson to trade Kelly’s draft rights to another NFL club.
“The two teams I wanted to play for at the time were the Steelers or the Raiders,” said Kelly. “But Mr. Wilson said he wouldn’t trade my rights. After losing Tom Cousineau, he said, ‘If I lose you this franchise will go down.’”
Even in the days prior to his death, Wilson was reportedly involved in the Bills' football personnel decisions.
Ralph Wilson called #Bills CEO Russ Brandon four days ago about a safety prospect he believed was a 3rd or 4th rounder. Amazing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2014
1990-93: Super Bowl era
Wilson's Bills never won a Super Bowl, but he came as close as any other owner in NFL history. Agonizingly close.
Head coach Marv Levy and Kelly led the Bills to back-to-back-to-back-to-back Super Bowls in the early 1990s, coming nearest to glory in 1990's Super Bowl XXV when Scott Norwood famously missed a potential game-winning kick mere feet "wide right."
[Courtesy: Reuters]
2009: Inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame
In a year that would have been the AFL's 50th anniversary, Wilson joined legendary Buffalo Bills pass rusher Bruce Smith in Hall of Fame enshrinement.
That year's Hall of Fame game broke from the tradition of an AFC and NFC team facing off and instead pitted two old AFL rivals, the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans (formerly Houston Oilers) against each other - in beautiful throwback uniforms.
[Courtesy: Reuters]
[Courtesy: Reuters]
