5 winningest coaches in Buffalo Bills’ franchise history
16. . . . Chuck Knox. 4. player
W-L Record: 37-36
Next on the list is Chuck Knox, who was head coach from 1978 to 1982, and was hired after the Bills won a combined five games in the two prior seasons. Ralph Wilson showed patience with Knox due in part to the continued year-over-year improvement.
In his first season as head coach, Knox would help the Bills go 5-11, and then in 1979, the Bills would improve that total by two games to 7-9. In 1980, the Bills would have a winning record for the first time since 1975 and made the playoffs with an 11-5 record and Knox would win Coach of the Year that season.
However, the Buffalo Bills would lose to the Chargers in the playoffs but return to the playoffs the following season with a 10-6 record and win their first playoff game since 1965, when they won the AFL Championship.
Knox would coach one more season but it was a shortened year during the player strike and the Bills would go 4-5. The Bills were not able to reach a new contract with Knox and he would leave to coach the Seattle Seahawks after that season.