Drafted in the 14th round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns out of Bluffton College, Elbert Dubenion instead signed with the upstart Buffalo Bills for their inaugural 1960 season. Nicknamed "Golden Wheels" for his track-level speed, Dubenion became an original AFL star and the franchise's first elite vertical threat.

Dubenion was a flanker built for vertical acceleration and big-play potential. In Lou Saban's offense, he was known for blowing past man coverage on go routes and deep posts. He paired smooth tracking on long passes with open-field quickness, routinely turning short hitches and sweeps into massive chunk plays.

Dubenion's peak occurred in 1964, during which he achieved one of the most efficient seasons for big-play receiving in the history of professional football. Receiving passes from Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, Dubenion secured 42 receptions for 1,139 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, with an impressive average of 27.1 yards per reception. He was awarded his first AFL All-Star selection and Second-Team All-AFL honors, contributing significantly to Buffalo's 12–2 record. Additionally, he established a place in the record books during the 1963 postseason; in the Eastern Division playoff game against the Boston Patriots, Dubenion caught a 93-yard touchdown pass from Daryle Lamonica—the longest reception in AFL playoff history.

Dubenion was a core offensive engine during Buffalo's back-to-back AFL Championship runs in 1964 and 1965. Though a severe knee injury limited him to three games in 1965, he returned to post 747 receiving yards in 1966 as Buffalo captured its third straight division title.

A true original who played his entire nine-year career in Buffalo (1960–1968), Dubenion finished his AFL career with 294 receptions, 5,294 receiving yards, and 35 receiving touchdowns, averaging 18.0 yards per catch.  He would later be chosen for the Bills Wall of Fame.