Buffalo Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Remembered

The NFL announced Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson died Tuesday. He was 95 years old. Wilson was the last of the original AFL owners. “No one loved the game of football more than Ralph Wilson,” Russ Brandon, Buffalo’s CEO, said Tuesday.

“He passed away peacefully at his home with his beautiful wife, Mary, and his daughters by his side.” “I speak for everyone within the Bills organization when I say that we are all suffering a deep and profound sadness with the passing of our Hall of Fame owner Mr. Wilson,” Brandon.

“We have lost our founder, our mentor, our friend, and this is a very difficult time for us all. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, his daughters Christy and Dee Dee (Edith), his niece Mary and his entire family.”

Wilson founded the Bills in 1959 for the start of the league. The Bills moved to the NFL when the two leagues merged in 1970. Wilson was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. The Bills were AFL Champions in 1964 and 1965, and they won the AFC Championship four years straight from 1990 to 1993 under Wilson – but never a Super Bowl.

He was the longest tenured NFL owner. The Bills’ stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., is named after Wilson.

Wilson was remember by many who knew and worked with him.

Russ Brandon, CEO Buffalo Bills

Mr. Wilson had a relentless passion, a deep love for his Buffalo Bills, the City of Buffalo and the National Football League.  He also loved the Bills fans and all of the people of Western New York who embraced the Bills. More than anything, he wanted to bring a Super Bowl Championship to Western New York. He wanted it for the players, the coaches and the franchise. But mostly he wanted it for the fans.  No owner has wanted a title more for these reasons than Mr. Wilson. In the end, he was extremely proud that his Bills are the only team to have played in four consecutive Super Bowls. For those of us fortunate to have worked for him, we’ll miss his kindness, his insight, his leadership, but mostly his sense of humor. He possessed the unique ability to turn a negative into a positive. Our organization, our league, our community has lost a great man.

Dan Snyder, Owner Washington Redskins

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great Ralph Wilson. All of us have lost a NFL legend whose passion for his team was inspiring. We will always be thankful for Ralph’s contributions to the development of the AFL and NFL.”

 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

“Ralph Wilson was a driving force in developing pro football into America’s most popular sport. He loved the game and took a chance on a start-up league in 1960 as a founding owner of the American Football League. He brought his beloved Bills to western New York and his commitment to the team’s role in the community set a standard for the NFL. As a trusted advisor to his fellow league owners and the commissioner, Ralph always brought a principled and common-sense approach to issues. His lifelong loyalty to the game was instrumental in his richly deserved induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We are grateful for his many contributions to the NFL and offer our heartfelt sympathy to the Wilson family.”

Tom Lewand,  President Detroit Lions

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Wilson. He was a dear friend to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, the Ford Family and the Lions organization. Mr. Wilson truly was one of the great visionaries and caretakers of our game. He was a great Detroiter and has left a lasting legacy for the city of Buffalo and Western New York. We lost a tremendous leader and a true friend today, and his contributions to the NFL will endure forever. Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his family, friends and the Buffalo Bills organization.”

Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO, Kansas City Chiefs

“On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization we’d like to express our deepest sympathies to the Wilson family and the Buffalo Bills. Ralph had a significant impact on the evolution of pro football. He took risks and made decisions that helped mold the NFL into what it is today. As two of the original members of the AFL’s Foolish Club, my father and Ralph shared a unique bond and a special friendship. I had the privilege of knowing Ralph and his family my entire life. His sense of humor was extraordinary and his passion for the Buffalo Bills was remarkable. He was a gentleman and a family man and will be missed dearly.”

Eagles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Lurie

“Ralph Wilson was not only a founding father of the American Football League but an iconic leader of what is so special about the NFL. He was a man who loved his football team and his Buffalo fans and always wanted what was best for the NFL. I admired his independent thinking on every issue that arose and will always remember his welcoming support when I came in to the league. He was a great example of ownership based on his love of the sport and especially his Buffalo Bills. On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, I would like to pass along my condolences to the Wilson family and to the entire Buffalo Bills organization.”

Greg Williams, St. Louis Rams

“I join the entire football community in mourning the loss of a truly great man in Ralph Wilson. I’m forever grateful to Mr. Wilson for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach in the National Football League. As a coach, Mr. Wilson was everything you could ask for in an owner. He was a very passionate football fan. He was progressive in his thoughts, he loved his players and he provided every resource you could ask for. It’s hard to imagine where our game and our league might be today were it not for his role in creating and more importantly sustaining the American Football League. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Wilson family at this difficult time.”

Marv Levy, Former Buffalo Bills Coach

“He wasn’t my boss he was my friend he was fun to be with.”

Bill Polia, Former Bills General Manager

“I’m sadden, It’s really a rough week for the bills family because of Wilson’s passing and Jimmy’s Illness. I’m internally grateful to Mr. Wilson for giving me the opportunity  to become a general manager.”

Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills

“My hearts been heave for the last 24-36-48 hours and with Mr. Wilson’s passing today it hurts. I was truly blessed to be around Mr. Wilson during the glory day”.

Steve Tasker, Buffalo Bills

“We were hoping today would never come, I’m broken  hearted over it. I’m going to miss him greatly”.

Ruben Brown, Buffalo Bills

“I have a deep affection for him he was the only person that hired me. My first job only real job I had and only real  job that mattered to me”.