Electric Company (Football)
Encyclopedia
The Electric Company was the nickname of the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills
during the mid 1970s that helped running back
O.J. Simpson establish numerous National Football League
(NFL) all-time records and earn numerous statistical titles. The nickname is sometimes more loosely used to refer to the Electric Company Offense for the Bills offensive unit or the Electric Company Buffalo Bills for the teams of this era.
During these years, Simpson established NFL records for single-season rushing yards (1973), single-season yards from scrimmage
(1973), single-season rushing yards per game (1973), single-season touchdown
s (1975), single-season 200-yard games (1973), consecutive 100-yard games (1972-73), single-game rushing yards (1973 & 1976) and career 200-rushing yard games. His single-season rushing yards per game and career 200-yard rushing games records still stand. Simpson was selected to the Pro Bowl
team and as an All-Pro
performer each year between 1972
and 1976
. He won the rushing title in four of those five seasons. During this time period, Simpson became the only running back to twice have 200-yard rushing efforts in back-to-back games. Simpson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
for his exploits.
Although the Buffalo Bills had winning records during the 1973, 1974 and 1975 seasons, only the 1974 Buffalo Bills
made the NFL playoffs during the 8-team format era. However, in the 1974–75 NFL playoffs they were eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl IX
champion 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers
.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
r Joe DeLamielleure
played right offensive guard and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the 1975 Buffalo Bills
–1979 Buffalo Bills
(and the 1980 Cleveland Browns
) and was All-Pro the first three of those seasons. College Football Hall of Fame
r Reggie McKenzie
, who was the left guard, was selected to the All-Pro team following the 1973 NFL season
and played for the Bills from 1972–1982. Paul Seymour
had been a member of the 1972 College Football All-America Team
as an offensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines
after having played two season at tight end
. He returned to the tight end position as a professional and became the team's starting tight end for five seasons starting in 1973. 1974 Pro Bowl
er Dave Foley
started at left tackle during all of Simpson's five consecutive Pro Bowl years and remained with the team through the 1977 season. Mike Montler
started half the games at center in 1973 and remained the starter through the 1976 season. Right tackle Donnie Green
was drafted by the Bills in the 1971 NFL Draft
and remained with the Bills through 1977. Lou Saban
was coach of the team from 1972 through part of the 1976 season, when he gave way to Jim Ringo
who was the offensive line coach for the Bills.
Other members of the Electric Company included center Bruce Jarvis
who started 8 games in 1973, but suffered a career-ending knee injury that season. During Simpson's first All-Pro season and first rushing title in 1972, before DeLamielleure was drafted in the 1973 NFL Draft
, Bob Penchion
and Dick Hart were listed at right guard. Jan White was listed at tight end before Seymour was drafted in the same 1973 draft. Also in 1972, Remi Prudhomme
and John Matlock were listed at center. However, the beginning of the Electric Company era is often considered to be 1973, which is when the Bills moved to Rich Stadium, Simpson started breaking records and the Bills broke a streak of six consecutive losing seasons.
When the nickname is expanded to include the whole offense, quarterback
Joe Ferguson
who was part of the Bills' 1973 NFL Draft
class along with DeLamielleure and Seymour is also considered to be a member. Fullback
Jim Braxton
, who became the starter in 1972, is also mentioned as part of the Electric Company. Even wide receivers Bob Chandler
and J.D. Hill are associated with the Electric Company.
's 1984 season, but have not been eclipsed on a yards per game basis yet because they were set in 14 games. Simpson's 1975 single-seasons touchdowns record (23 set in 14 games) lasted until John Riggins
posted 24 in 1983 in 16 games. However, the first person to post more touchdowns per game was Priest Holmes
who totaled 27 in 2003. On September 16, 1973, Simpson broke Willie Ellison
's 247-yard single game record with a 250-yard effort against the New York Jets
. On November 25, 1976, Simpson broke his own single-game rushing yards record by posting 273 yards. Walter Payton
then recorded a 275-yard effort less than a year later on November 20, 1977. Simpson's six career 200-yard games remains an NFL record. Earl Campbell
and Ricky Williams
have also posted back-to-back 200-yard games, but unlike Simpson they each only have done so once. When Simpson rushed for 100 yards in each of the first five games of the 1973 season it gave him seven consecutive 100-yard games, which was an NFL record. That record has been broken several times including back-to-back seasons when Payton took the record to 9 in 1985 and Marcus Allen
increased it to 11 in 1986. Finally in 1997, Barry Sanders
posted 14 consecutive 100-yard efforts.
Simpson earned the NFL rushing titles in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. He led the league in total touchdowns and total points scored in 1975, and he led in rushing touchdowns in both 1973 and 1975. He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1973, 1975 and 1976 and in all-purpose yards in 1973 and 1976. Also in 1972, 1973 and 1975 he had the longest run in the NFL for the year, including a career-high 94-yard run in 1972.
and the first running back to eclipse 2000 yards rushing in a single season. Simpson gave the offensive line its nickname.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the mid 1970s that helped running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
O.J. Simpson establish numerous National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) all-time records and earn numerous statistical titles. The nickname is sometimes more loosely used to refer to the Electric Company Offense for the Bills offensive unit or the Electric Company Buffalo Bills for the teams of this era.
During these years, Simpson established NFL records for single-season rushing yards (1973), single-season yards from scrimmage
Yards from scrimmage
Yards from scrimmage is an American football and Canadian football statistical measure. In the game of football, progress is measured by advancing the football towards the opposing team's goal line. Progress can be made during play by the offensive team by advancing the ball from the its point of...
(1973), single-season rushing yards per game (1973), single-season touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (1975), single-season 200-yard games (1973), consecutive 100-yard games (1972-73), single-game rushing yards (1973 & 1976) and career 200-rushing yard games. His single-season rushing yards per game and career 200-yard rushing games records still stand. Simpson was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
team and as an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
performer each year between 1972
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
and 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
. He won the rushing title in four of those five seasons. During this time period, Simpson became the only running back to twice have 200-yard rushing efforts in back-to-back games. Simpson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
for his exploits.
Although the Buffalo Bills had winning records during the 1973, 1974 and 1975 seasons, only the 1974 Buffalo Bills
1974 Buffalo Bills season
The 1974 Buffalo Bills season was the 15th season for the club in pro football and fifth in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Playoffs:-External Links:**-References:* * *...
made the NFL playoffs during the 8-team format era. However, in the 1974–75 NFL playoffs they were eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1974 regular season. It would be the last pro game at legendary Tulane Stadium...
champion 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers
1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season
-NFL Draft:In the 1974 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team in NFL history to select four Pro Football Hall of Fame players in the same draft .* Round 1: Lynn Swann, USC...
.
Members
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
r Joe DeLamielleure
Joe DeLamielleure
Joseph Michael DeLamielleure is a former American football offensive lineman who was an All-American at Michigan State. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He won All-Rookie Honors, after finding out a physical condition with his irregular heartbeat was...
played right offensive guard and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the 1975 Buffalo Bills
1975 Buffalo Bills season
The 1975 Buffalo Bills season was the 16th season for the club in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-References:* * *...
–1979 Buffalo Bills
1979 Buffalo Bills season
The 1979 Buffalo Bills season was the 20th season for the club and its 10th in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Roster:-Schedule:- Standings :-References:* * *...
(and the 1980 Cleveland Browns
1980 Cleveland Browns season
The 1980 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 31st season with the National Football League.For more details on the season, see Kardiac Kids and Red Right 88.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1980 NFL Draft.-Memorable moments:...
) and was All-Pro the first three of those seasons. College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
r Reggie McKenzie
Reggie McKenzie (guard)
Reginald McKenzie is a former American football player. He played at the offensive guard position for the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 and was a consensus first-team All-American in 1971. He also who played 13 years of professional football for the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks...
, who was the left guard, was selected to the All-Pro team following the 1973 NFL season
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
and played for the Bills from 1972–1982. Paul Seymour
Paul Seymour (American football)
Paul Christopher Seymour is a former professional American football player. He played five seasons for the Buffalo Bills.A 6'5", 250 lbs...
had been a member of the 1972 College Football All-America Team
1972 College Football All-America Team
The 1972 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
as an offensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
after having played two season at tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He returned to the tight end position as a professional and became the team's starting tight end for five seasons starting in 1973. 1974 Pro Bowl
1974 Pro Bowl
The 1974 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 20, 1974 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The final Score was AFC 15, NFC 13. Kicker Garo Yepremian of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP. The attendance for the game was 66,918. In the game, Yepremian set a Pro Bowl record with 5...
er Dave Foley
Dave Foley (American football)
David Foley is a former college and professional offensive lineman of the 1960s and '70s.Foley was a three-year starter at offensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes under head coach Woody Hayes...
started at left tackle during all of Simpson's five consecutive Pro Bowl years and remained with the team through the 1977 season. Mike Montler
Mike Montler
Michael R. Montler was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Boston/New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and the Detroit Lions.-University of Colorado:...
started half the games at center in 1973 and remained the starter through the 1976 season. Right tackle Donnie Green
Donnie Green
Donnie Gerald Green is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Detroit Lions. He played college football at Purdue University and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1971 NFL Draft....
was drafted by the Bills in the 1971 NFL Draft
1971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
and remained with the Bills through 1977. Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
was coach of the team from 1972 through part of the 1976 season, when he gave way to Jim Ringo
Jim Ringo
James Stephen "Jim" Ringo was a professional American football player, a Hall of Fame center and coach. He was a ten time Pro Bowler during his career....
who was the offensive line coach for the Bills.
Other members of the Electric Company included center Bruce Jarvis
Bruce Jarvis
Bruce Jarvis was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for four seasons for the Buffalo Bills.-Buffalo Bills:...
who started 8 games in 1973, but suffered a career-ending knee injury that season. During Simpson's first All-Pro season and first rushing title in 1972, before DeLamielleure was drafted in the 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, Bob Penchion
Bob Penchion
Robert Earl Penchion was a former professional American football player who played in five National Football League seasons from 1972-1976 for the Buffalo Bills, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Alcorn State University....
and Dick Hart were listed at right guard. Jan White was listed at tight end before Seymour was drafted in the same 1973 draft. Also in 1972, Remi Prudhomme
Remi Prudhomme
Joseph Remi Prudhomme was an American football offensive lineman at Louisiana State University, where he was an All-American in 1964...
and John Matlock were listed at center. However, the beginning of the Electric Company era is often considered to be 1973, which is when the Bills moved to Rich Stadium, Simpson started breaking records and the Bills broke a streak of six consecutive losing seasons.
When the nickname is expanded to include the whole offense, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson
Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
who was part of the Bills' 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
class along with DeLamielleure and Seymour is also considered to be a member. Fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Jim Braxton
Jim Braxton
James Robert Braxton was a professional American football fullback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.-Collegiate career:...
, who became the starter in 1972, is also mentioned as part of the Electric Company. Even wide receivers Bob Chandler
Bob Chandler
Robert Donald Chandler was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League.-Professional career:...
and J.D. Hill are associated with the Electric Company.
Records and titles
Simpson's single-season rushing yards (2003 set in 1973) and single-season yards from scrimmage (2243 set in 1973) records were eclipsed in Eric DickersonEric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
's 1984 season, but have not been eclipsed on a yards per game basis yet because they were set in 14 games. Simpson's 1975 single-seasons touchdowns record (23 set in 14 games) lasted until John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
posted 24 in 1983 in 16 games. However, the first person to post more touchdowns per game was Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
who totaled 27 in 2003. On September 16, 1973, Simpson broke Willie Ellison
Willie Ellison
William Henry Ellison is a former American football running back who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs. Sporting #33, he spent his first four seasons in the NFL as backup behind Larry Smith, before taking over as starting...
's 247-yard single game record with a 250-yard effort against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On November 25, 1976, Simpson broke his own single-game rushing yards record by posting 273 yards. Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
then recorded a 275-yard effort less than a year later on November 20, 1977. Simpson's six career 200-yard games remains an NFL record. Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
and Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
have also posted back-to-back 200-yard games, but unlike Simpson they each only have done so once. When Simpson rushed for 100 yards in each of the first five games of the 1973 season it gave him seven consecutive 100-yard games, which was an NFL record. That record has been broken several times including back-to-back seasons when Payton took the record to 9 in 1985 and Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
increased it to 11 in 1986. Finally in 1997, Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
posted 14 consecutive 100-yard efforts.
Simpson earned the NFL rushing titles in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. He led the league in total touchdowns and total points scored in 1975, and he led in rushing touchdowns in both 1973 and 1975. He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1973, 1975 and 1976 and in all-purpose yards in 1973 and 1976. Also in 1972, 1973 and 1975 he had the longest run in the NFL for the year, including a career-high 94-yard run in 1972.
Background
The nickname for the offensive line was a reference to O.J. "Juice" Simpson. The offensive line earned its nickname for its ability to "turn on the juice," which was a metaphor for unleashing Simpson, who at the time was the best running back in the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the first running back to eclipse 2000 yards rushing in a single season. Simpson gave the offensive line its nickname.