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4. Jim Kelly

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4. Jim Kelly
Considering how he originally stated he didn’t want to be in Buffalo (he went to the Houston Gamblers of the USFL first), there might be no player in Bills history who is more synonymous with the city than former Quarterback, Jim Kelly.

When the USFL folded, Kelly resigned himself to the cold weather but would become a major star in that environment.  Kelly would lead the no-huddle “K-Gun” to one of the most potent offenses of the era and he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.

Holding every major passing record in Bills history, Kelly threw for 237 Touchdowns and 35,467 Yards, with two top five MVP finishes.  Kelly also led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 1991, and was in he top ten in this statistic eight other times.

Kelly would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and was the first man to have his number retired by the team.  It is not a stretch to say that he is the most revered man in Buffalo Bills history, and twenty years from now we will probably say the same thing.  The Bills might not have won the Super Bowl, but his work in winning four AFC Championships will never be forgotten.  This was ensured when the team retired his number 12 in 2001 (the first to receive this honor) and entered him into their Wall of Fame the same year.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Quarterback
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round, 14th Pick Overall, 4/26/83.
  • Departed: Retired at the end of the 1996 season.
  • Games Played: 160
  • Notable Statistics: 160 Games Started
    2,874 Pass Completions
    4,779 Pass Attempts
    60.1% Pass Completion Percentage
    35,467 Passing Yards
    237 Touchdown Passes
    175 Interceptions
    84.4 Passer Rating
    1,049 Rushing Yards
    7 Rushing Touchdowns
    2 Receptions
    40 Receiving Yards
    132 Approximate Value

    17 Playoff Games
    322 Pass Completions
    545 Pass Attempts
    59.1% Pass Completion Percentage
    3,863 Passing Yards
    21 Touchdown Passes
    28 Interceptions
    72.3 Passer Rating
    44 Rushing Attempts
    161 Rushing Yards
    1 Reception
    -8 Receiving Yards
  • Major Accolades and Awards: First Team All-Pro Selection (1991)
    Second Team All-Pro Selection (1992)
    Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 & 1992)
    Most Touchdown Passes (1991)
    Highest Passer Rating (1990)
Last modified on Saturday, 11 June 2022 21:45
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