Jan. 18, 1962 -- The future of the Buffalo Bills started to look a great deal brighter on this day.
The Bills had stumbled through their first two years under coach Buster Ramsey. When the team decided to make a change, a replacement in Lou Saban was already around. Saban, who had been coach of the Boston Patriots, joined the Bills' front office in 1961.
Saban used his player personnel skills immediately. He hired a brand-new coaching staff, including assistant Joel Collier, and started wheeling and dealing in an effort to put together a better team.
Saban needed a little time to build a winner, but he eventually guided the Bills to a pair of AFL titles in
1964 and 1965. Saban had a record of 36-17-3 in his first go-around with the team. He returned in the 1970's to help the Bills climb out of the NFL's basement.
--- Budd Bailey
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