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 Bills, coming off a 4–10 season in
1967
Events
January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 5
** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...
, fired coach
Joe Collier
Joel Dale Collier (born June 7, 1932) is an American former football coach who was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL) from 1966 through part of 1968, compiling a 13–16–1 record.
College career
Coll ...
after an 0–2 start in 1968. Defensive backfield coach
Harvey Johnson was promoted to interim head coach, where he went 1–10–1 to finish the year.
With the release of
running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offen ...
Wray Carlton
Linwood Wray Carlton (born June 18, 1937) is a former American gridiron football running back who played professionally in both Canada and the United States.
Unable to come to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had selected him in the 19 ...
,
wide receiver Elbert Dubenion
Elbert Dubenion (February 16, 1933 – December 26, 2019) was an American football wide receiver and running back who spent his entire nine-season professional career with the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. He played college foo ...
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
Daniel Meyer Darragh (born November 28, 1946) is a former American football player. He played college football at William & Mary. A quarterback, he played professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills from 1968 through ...
, after injuries claimed the seasons of long-time starter
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp (July 13, 1935 – May 2, 2009) was an American politician and a professional football player. A member of the Republican Party from New York, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bu ...
and new addition
Tom Flores
Thomas Raymond Flores (born March 21, 1937) is a former American football coach and quarterback. After his retirement as a coach, he was a radio announcer for more than twenty years.
Flores won a total of four Super Bowls in his playing and c ...
. Even Darragh and new addition
Kay Stephenson
George Kay Stephenson (born December 17, 1944) is an American former college and professional football player and retired coach, whose latter career has seen him work in four different professional leagues. Stephenson played quarterback for the ...
were injured. Ultimately, running back
Ed Rutkowski
Edward John Anthony Rutkowski (born March 21, 1941) is a former American football player, and a former politician in Buffalo, New York. Rutkowski was a noted College football, college and professional American football player. A wide receiver, he ...
, who hadn't played the quarterback position since college six years prior, ended up starting at quarterback for the Bills.
Buffalo's only win of the season was a home victory over the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...
, in which 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.
Offseason
* August 24: Bills sign fullback
Wayne Patrick
Wayne Allen Patrick (September 1, 1946 – March 23, 2010) was a professional American football running back for five seasons for the Buffalo Bills in both the American Football League and the National Football League. He was born in Gainesville, ...
.
[Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.392, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ]
* August 27: Bills acquire quarterback (and future Bills head coach)
Kay Stephenson
George Kay Stephenson (born December 17, 1944) is an American former college and professional football player and retired coach, whose latter career has seen him work in four different professional leagues. Stephenson played quarterback for the ...
from the
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
for a Fifth Round Pick.
* August 28: Bills acquire
fullback Bob Cappadona
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cappadona (born December 13, 1942) is a member of the Northeastern University athletics Hall of Fame. Cappadona was inducted in 1977 for his accomplishments in football. Cappadona also enjoyed a three-year professional football ...
from the
Boston Patriots
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most ...
for a ninth round draft pick.
* September 2: The Bills cut running backs
Wray Carlton
Linwood Wray Carlton (born June 18, 1937) is a former American gridiron football running back who played professionally in both Canada and the United States.
Unable to come to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had selected him in the 19 ...
, wide receiver
Ed Rutkowski
Edward John Anthony Rutkowski (born March 21, 1941) is a former American football player, and a former politician in Buffalo, New York. Rutkowski was a noted College football, college and professional American football player. A wide receiver, he ...
(who would return later in the season as a quarterback), tight end
Charley Ferguson
Charles Edward Ferguson (November 13, 1939 – February 14, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the American Football League (AFL) with the Buffalo Bills. He was in playoff games with the Bills in four ...
and defensive tackle
Dudley Meredith
Cecil Dudley Meredith (January 16, 1935December 22, 1987) was a professional American football defensive end in the American Football League. He played six seasons for the Houston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a prof ...
.
[Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.393, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ]
AFL Draft
Personnel
Coaches/Staff
*Source: https://pro-football-history.com/franchise/7/buffalo-bills-coaches
Final roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
Standings
Game summaries
Week 12 vs. Raiders
Thanksgiving Day
Awards and Records
*
Bob Kalsu
James Robert Kalsu (April 13, 1945 – July 21, 1970) was an American American football, football player who was an All-American tackle at the 1967 Oklahoma Sooners football team, University of Oklahoma and an 1968 NFL/AFL draft#Round eight, eig ...
, Team Rookie of the Year
[Rockin’ the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, p.513, Jeffrey J. Miller, ECW Press, 2007, ]
References
Buffalo Bills on Pro Football ReferenceBuffalo Bills on jt-sw.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1968 Buffalo Bills Season
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...
Buffalo Bills seasons
Buffalo