Lou Saban was honored today as the 30th member of the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame for the contributions he made to the organization during his coaching career.
His name was added to the wall in a special halftime ceremony of today’s Bills season opening win against the Indianapolis Colts.
“We are so thrilled, we are so excited, we are beyond words,” his daughter Barbara said. “Dad would be thrilled. This is home, he was a Buffalo Bills kinda guy, he was a blue collar kinda guy and he would be thrilled.”
“Well he was so deserving,” former Bills lineman Billy Shaw said. “And it goes much deeper than that; he was our motivator, our leader, our coach. We’re all better men today, better husbands, better citizens, because of Lou. He just had an uncanny ability to bring out the best in players that didn’t have a lot of talent and very, very special to see his family get the opportunity to see him go on the wall.”
In his nine season as the head coach of the Bills, Saban compiled a record of 68-45-4 and led the team to AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965.
His 68 wins ranks second all-time amongst Bills coaches, only trailing fellow Wall of Famer Marv Levy who finished with 112 victories.
“Well we knew that eventually he would be on the wall of fame and it was so nice of the Buffalo Bills to coincide it with our 50th anniversary of our championship teams,” former Bills receiver Ed Rutkowski said. “I was surprised. We knew eventually that he would probably make the wall of fame but to have it the same weekend of 50th anniversary is very special.”
In 16 total seasons as a head coach in the AFL and the NFL, Saban compiled a record of 95-99-7.
Before his coaching career, Saban was a single-wing quarterback at Indiana University and was the team’s MVP in 1942. His collegiate career was cut short by World War II, during which Saban served four years in the Army as a Chinese language interpreter in the China-Burma theater.
After his tour of service, Saban joined the Cleveland Browns in the All-American Football Conference. He played linebacker under Paul Brown and appeared in four consecutive conference championship games. Saban intercepted 13 passes in his four year career and also served as the emergency backup to Otto Graham at quarterback.
In addition to his time coaching in the NFL and AFL, Saban had extensive experience coaching in the collegiate ranks. He totaled a career record of 94-99-4 over 22 seasons.
The Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame was created in 1980 to honor former players, administrators and coaches who have played significant roles in the team’s history.
The entire list of past honorees is listed below:
PAST WALL OF FAME HONOREES
- 2014 – Van Miller
- 2012 – Bill Polian
- 2011 – Phil Hansen
- 2010 – Booker Edgerson
- 2008 – Bruce Smith
- 2007 – Steve Tasker
- 2006 – Andre Reed
- 2005 – Thurman Thomas
- 2004 – Jim Ritcher
- 2003 – Darryl Talley
- 2002 – Kent Hull
- 2001 – Fred Smerlas
- 2001 – Jim Kelly
- 2000 – George Saimes
- 2000 – Bob Kalsu
- 1999 – Edward Abramoski
- 1998 – Robert James
- 1997 – Joe DeLamielleure
- 1996 – Marv Levy
- 1995 – Joe Ferguson
- 1994 – Mike Stratton
- 1993 – Elbert Dubenion
- 1992 – The 12th Man
- 1989 – Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
- 1988 – Billy Shaw
- 1987 – Tom Sestak
- 1985 – Patrick J. McGroder
- 1984 – Jack Kemp
- 1980 – O.J. Simpson
The image, along with information used in this post were provided by the Buffalo Bills.
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