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192. Butch Byrd

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192. Butch Byrd

We can't say enough about the AFL's Buffalo Bill defense of the 1960s, a unit that doesn't get the due that it should.  This is a team that would win the 1964 and 1965 AFL Title, but most people remember the four straight failures in the Super Bowl in the early 90s.

We remember.

A member of the two back-to-back AFL Championships, Butch Byrd, was a rookie on that first team where the Cornerback would record 7 Interceptions and a career-high 179 Interception Return Yards.  Byrd would never have a season with less than four picks as a Bill, which is impressive considering that opposing QBs wanted nothing to do with him.

Byrd would be a Second Team All-AFL Selection and was a five-time AFL All-Star.  Also, the three-time First Team All-Pro is still the all-time leader in Interceptions and Interception Return Yards.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Watervliet, New York, U.S.A.
  • Eligible Since: Saturday, 01 January 1977
  • Position: Cornerback, Punt Returner
  • Games Played: 112
  • Notable Statistics: 40 Interceptions
    666 Interception Return Yards
    5 Interception Return Touchdown
    4 Fumble Recoveries
    26 Fumble Recovery Yards
    86 Punt Returns
    600 Punt Return Yards
    1 Punt Return Touchdown
    77 Approximate Value

    3 Playoff Games
    2 Interceptions
    24 Interception Return Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery
    0 Fumble Recovery Yards
    6 Punt Returns
    87 Punt Return Yards
    1 Punt Return Touchdown
  • Played For: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos
  • College: Boston University
  • Drafted: 4th Round, 25th Overall in 1964
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    AFL Champion (2) (Buffalo Bills, 1964 & 1965)
    AFL All-Time Second Team
    First Team All-Pro (3) (1955, 1956 & 1957)
    Second Team All-Pro (1) (1968)
    AFL All-Star (5) (1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 & 1969)

  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten Finishes: Approximate Value (1) (1966)
    Top Ten Finishes: Punt Returns (3) (1965, 1966 & 1967)
    Top Ten Finishes: Punt Return Yards (3) (1965, 1966 & 1967)
    Top Yen Finishes: Yards per Punt Return (3) (1965, 1966 & 1967)
    Top Ten Finishes: Returns (2) (1965 & 1967)
    Top Ten Finishes: Fumble Recoveries (1) (1967)
    Top Ten Finishes: Fumble Recovery Yards (1) (1969)
    Top Ten Finishes: Interceptions (6) (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 & 1969)

  • Notable All Time Rankings: 65. Interception Return Yards: 666
    78. Interceptions: 40

Should Butch Byrd be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 66.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 25%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 8.3%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%
Last modified on Tuesday, 28 March 2023 23:01
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