gold star for USAHOF
Site Admin

Site Admin

20. Jim Ritcher

The starting Left Guard for the Buffalo Bills during their elite run in the late ’80s and the early ’90s, Jim Rtcher would be named to two Pro Bowls and is one of the few players to suit up for Buffalo for over 200 Games.

Ritcher entered the Bills Wall of Fame in 2004.

16. Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp would actually become more famous for his foray into politics, but in Buffalo he was an exceptional Quarterback who would lead the Bills to two AFL Championships.

13. Mike Stratton

Mike Stratton is a forgotten piece of Buffalo Bills Football lore, which is unfortunate as he was a dominating Linebacker during the 1960’s who in the 1964 AFL Championship game executed “The Hit Heard Round the World” when he stopped San Diego’s Keith Lincoln and took him out of the contest.  That hit changed the momentum of the game, which would lead to Buffalo’s first AFL Title.  Stratton would be named to the Second Team All-Time AFL roster.

Buffalo chose Stratton for their Wall of Fame in 1994.

Taken second overall in the 1987 NFL Draft by Indianapolis out of Alabama, Cornelius Bennett landed in Buffalo following a blockbuster three-way trade before ever playing a down for the Colts. Joining a talent-rich core featuring Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley, and Shane Conlan, "Biscuit" brought rare, world-class athletic traits that elevated Ted Cottrell and Walt Corey's defense into an aggressive, championship-caliber unit.

Bennett possessed a rare combination of raw power, closing acceleration, and fluid movement skills. Operating as an outside linebacker in Buffalo's 3-4 front, he was equally adept at turning the corner as an explosive edge rusher or dropping back into pass coverage to blank out tight ends. His signature trait was his violent closing speed in pursuit—he possessed the lateral range to run down sweeps on the opposite sideline and the brute strength to blow up lead blockers in the hole.

Bennett made an immediate impact when he arrived midway through his rookie season in 1987, recording 8.5 sacks in just eight games. His rise to superstardom started in 1988. That year, he tallied 9.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles, earning him the UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year award and his first Pro Bowl selection, along with a First-Team All-Pro honor.

As the Bills began their historic dominance in the early 1990s, Bennett was the driving force of Buffalo's front seven during four straight Super Bowl appearances (1990–1993). In 1991, he delivered another exceptional season, recording 78 tackles, 9.0 sacks, and three forced fumbles, earning his second UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year award, his second First-Team All-Pro selection, and his third Pro Bowl.

He continued to be a dominant player throughout the decade, earning Pro Bowl selections in 1992, 1993, and 1995. His most memorable moment was during the 1993 playoffs against Oakland, when he delivered a powerful sack on Vince Evans, marking Buffalo's return to the championship game.

After nine stellar seasons in Western New York, salary-cap pressures led to a separation following the 1995 season. Bennett signed a free-agent deal with Atlanta in 1996, helping lead the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII before concluding his career with the Indianapolis Colts. His dominance throughout the era earned him a spot on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Bennett played in 128 regular-season games, accumulating 52.5 sacks, 793 total tackles, seven interceptions, 22 forced fumbles, and 19 fumble recoveries as a Bill. In 2010, the franchise honored his lasting impact by inducting Bennett into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame.