Who are the Buffalo Bills? The history of Chiefs’ latest rival before AFC Championship
For the fourth time in five years, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills will meet in the playoffs, but the two teams have seen each other much more than that.
Since 2020, the teams have played each other eight times, and Sunday, Jan. 26’s AFC Championship will mark game No. 9 in what’s become one of the NFL’s best rivalries. That’s one game less than the Chiefs have played AFC West opponents in the same time span.
The Bills are among the most successful teams in recent history, winning the AFC East division the last five seasons and hosting multiple playoff games. The franchise’s turnaround came after they drafted quarterback Josh Allen in 2018, but they haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1994, facing heartbreaking losses at the hands of the Chiefs two of the last three years.
It’s a rematch from Nov. 17, 2024, where the Bills defeated the Chiefs 30-21 in Orchard Park, New York, and handed Kansas City its first regular season loss of the season. Now Buffalo comes to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Before the AFC Championship Game begins, familiarize yourself with Buffalo’s background. Here’s a look at the team’s beginnings, the chant and why they put themselves through tables.
Buffalo’s beginnings
The Buffalo Bills are one of the original eight teams of the American Football League, along with the Chiefs. The franchise was established in 1958 when it was awarded to owner Ralph C. Wilson, and has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows over its history.
They claimed an AFL Championship in 1964 and 1965 and were one win away from representing the AFL in the first-ever Super Bowl, losing to the Chiefs in 1966. The team would only win 13 games in the next five seasons.
They’re the first team to go to four straight Super Bowls, representing the AFC from 1990 to 1993. Each trip to the big game was led by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and coach Marv Levy.
Unfortunately, they lost all four. The first loss came down to kicker Scott Norwood sending a 47-yard field goal attempt wide right with 8 seconds left, losing to the New York Giants 20-19 in Super Bowl 25.
The Bills were completely outclassed in the following three Super Bowls, losing to the Washington Commanders 37-24 in Super Bowl 26, 52-17 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl 27 and again to the Cowboys in Super Bowl 28 by a score of 30-13.
Buffalo now finds themselves one win away from reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in over 30 years.
Get the tables for the Bills Mafia
Buffalo’s fanbase deeply cares about its team, so much so that they can be found putting themselves through tables before and after the game. The origins of why they do this aren’t clear, but it’s one part of the whole that makes the Bills Mafia.
While the name “mafia” may give off a mobster mentality, it means family, co-founder Del Reid said.
The term “Bills Mafia” was coined by fans on social media in 2011, but it began in 2010 when Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson took to Twitter (now X) after the game, posting about his frustration.
His tweet was retweeted by an ESPN reporter, and fans who replied were later blocked by the reporter. Fast-forward to the 2011 offseason where fans encouraged others to follow the blocked accounts, using the hashtags #BillsMafia. Bills players also started using the hashtag.
When they’re not defending their team from criticism, Bills Mafia can be found helping others in Buffalo and around the United States. They use their mob mentality to donate to charities of NFL players after notable events, like sending $415,000 to former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s foundation after helping the Bills get into the playoffs for the first time in 17 years in 2017.
Following the Bills’ 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Jan. 19, fans donated to Ravens tight end Mark Andrews’ foundation after he faced harsh criticism for dropping a game-tying two-point conversion. They also raised over $16,000 for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s foundation after he knocked out of their Thursday, Sept. 12 game with a concussion.
Famous fans and fiancés
Celebrities have shown their support for the Bills over the years. Musicians, athletes and actors have claimed the hometown team as their own, popping up at games to cheer in the crowd and on the field. Celebrities have even found themselves engaged to Bills players, as Allen announced his engagement to Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld in November.
Here’s who else lends their support the Bills:
- Wolf Blitzer, journalist: “The Bills are still my team,” Blitzer said in an NFL.com video series on celebrity fans. “And they always will be.”
- Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn, musicians: The members of the hip-hop record label Griselda are both from Buffalo and spotted at multiple games throughout the season. Benny has a merchandise collaboration with the team, and Westside recently took his daughter on the field following the victory over the Ravens.
Christopher McDonald, actor: Shooter McGavin in “Happy Gilmore” is a noted Bills fan and friend of the Bills Hall of Fame quarterback.
Bubba Watson, athlete: The professional golfer almost hit a hole-in-one after driving a ball off a Bills Mafia member’s forearm at the 2021 QBE Shootout.
A new stadium
The Bills are on the way out of the old Highmark Stadium and moving into the new Highmark Stadium, scheduled to open in 2026. The new stadium is opening adjacent to the current location and is designed by Populous, who also designed the renderings for a Royals stadium voters rejected in 2024.
The team opted to not cover the stadium with a dome or retractable roof after cost evaluations said it work make such a location and roof unfeasible for the local Buffalo community, according to Sports Illustrated. Buffalo averages 92 inches of snow each year due to the lake effect and snow belts, so Populous opted to design a heated canopy that covers 60% of the stadium and can melt any accumulated snow.
The new stadium costs over $2.1 billion, according to The Associated Press.
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
