Selected 26th overall in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft from Michigan State, Joe DeLamielleure arrived in Buffalo under immediate pressure to enhance the franchise's offensive line. Paired with tackle Donnie Green and guard Reggie McKenzie, "Joe D" became the central force of the renowned "Electric Company"—the offensive line celebrated for "turning the Juice loose" and propelling O.J. Simpson into the annals of history.

DeLamielleure, a 1970s guard, revolutionized guard play with quick footwork and superior balance. He was effective as a pulling guard, aggressively engaging linebackers on sweep plays. What distinguished him was his leverage and upper-body strength, allowing him to hold off top defensive tackles at the line of scrimmage. Notably, he frequently faced off against the legendary "Mean" Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers in intense trenches battles.

DeLamielleure received All-Rookie honors in 1973, starting immediately and playing a key role as Simpson became the NFL's first player to surpass 2,000 rushing yards (2,003 yards in 14 games).

His prime individual performance occurred in the mid-1970s. DeLamielleure received his first Pro Bowl nod in 1975, followed by three straight First-Team All-Pro selections in 1975, 1976, and 1977. His pulling blocks were key to Buffalo's 1975 offense, which at the time set an NFL record with 2,975 rushing yards in a single season. During his initial tenure with Buffalo (1973–1979), he appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls and played in every game.

DeLamielleure was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1980, where he played five seasons, earning another Pro Bowl in 1980 and supporting Brian Sipe's MVP season. He went back to Western New York in 1985 for one last season with the Bills before retiring. Over his 13-year career, he played in 185 straight regular-season games.

He was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, confirming his status as one of the top guards of his era. The Buffalo Bills honored him by adding him to the Wall of Fame in 1997. Six years afterward, DeLamielleure received football's highest accolade when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Fred Smerlas arrived in Western New York as a relentless, physical force. Tipping the scales at 6 feet 3 inches and 275 pounds, he redefined nose tackle play in Chuck Knox’s 3-4 defense, anchoring the center of Buffalo's front line during an era of massive franchise transition.

Smerlas operated with a low center of gravity, aggressive hand techniques, and relentless energy. Positioned centrally, he excelled at breaking double-teams and absorbing hits in the interior, enabling linebackers like Shane Conlan and Darryl Talley to make tackles. Unlike typical nose tackles of his time, Smerlas was noteworthy for his lateral agility—he often shed blocks to disrupt running lanes or collapse the pocket during passing plays.

Smerlas became the starting nose tackle full-time in 1980 during his sophomore year, earning his first Pro Bowl selection as he led a defense that helped Buffalo win its first AFC East title in four years. He reaffirmed his status in 1981 with another Pro Bowl appearance, cementing his reputation as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league.

His peak performance came in the limited 1982 season. As the key threat on a defense that helped Buffalo stay competitive, Smerlas had a standout run that earned him his only First-Team All-Pro honor and his third straight Pro Bowl selection.

Despite the Bills experiencing several tough losing seasons in the mid-1980s, Smerlas remained a fan favorite and a standout player in Western New York. He earned two more Pro Bowl selections in 1983 and 1988, playing a key role on the defense as young stars like Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett, and Jim Kelly helped turn Buffalo into a powerhouse. By the late 1980s, Smerlas's efforts paid off as the team became a consistent contender, winning back-to-back AFC East titles in 1988 and 1989.

After 11 seasons in Buffalo, Smerlas departed after the 1989 campaign as the Bills transitioned to younger defensive linemen. He played one season for San Francisco in 1990 and finished his career with New England in 1991 before retiring.

With the Bills, Smerlas played in 162 regular-season games, accumulating 29 official sacks and recovering 11 fumbles. In recognition of his stellar play and lasting popularity, Smerlas was inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2001.

Chosen in the second round (39th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft by Buffalo from West Virginia—where he earned unanimous All-American honors—Darryl Talley joined Western New York as an energetic and formidable defender. Throughout his twelve-season tenure with Buffalo, "Spider-Man" established himself as an essential defensive pillar, exhibiting exceptional durability and extensive sideline-to-sideline coverage during the franchise's most illustrious period.

Talley was a standout outside linebacker who combined the quickness of a defensive back with the powerful hits of a down lineman. Playing on Buffalo's right side in the 3-4 defense, he lined up right next to Bruce Smith, giving him plenty of space to rush the passer, stop the run, or cover receivers. Known for his distinct arms-extended "Spider-Man" stance at the pre-snap line, Talley used his keen sense of space and relentless energy to make tackles before plays could easily go outside.

Talley fulfilled his role as a key rotational player and pass rusher before becoming a full-time starter in 1984. During the Bills’ championship team formation in the late 1980s, Talley became the defensive unit's central figure and outspoken leader.

His peak performance period aligned with Buffalo's four consecutive AFC Championship appearances from 1990 to 1993. In 1990, Talley was selected for his first Pro Bowl and received First-Team All-Pro recognition for leading a formidable linebacker group to Super Bowl XXV. He repeated his individual achievements in 1991, earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection while anchoring a defense that successfully contained top offenses in the AFC.

He added another First-Team All-Pro selection in 1993, capping off a golden four-year stretch in which he started all four Super Bowl appearances for Western New York. 

Salary-cap constraints led to Talley's emotional departure after the 1994 season. In 1995, he joined Atlanta via free agency, then moved to Minnesota in 1996 before retiring after 14 NFL seasons. Throughout his time in Buffalo, Talley played in every game, with a streak of 188 consecutive regular-season appearances. He totaled 1,137 tackles—an all-time franchise record—along with 38.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries. The Bills inducted him into their Wall of Fame in 2003.