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208. Butch Byrd

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We can't say enough about the AFL's Buffalo Bills defense of the 1960s, a unit that doesn't get the credit it should.  This team won the 1964 and 1965 AFL titles, but most people remember four straight Super Bowl failures 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 recorded 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: 99 Games Started
    40 Interceptions
    666 Interception Return Yards
    5 Interception Return Touchdowns
    7 Fumble Recoveries
    52 Fumble Recovery Yards
    86 Punt Returns
    600 Punt Return Yards
    1 Punt Return Touchdown
    77 Approximate Value

    3 Playoff Games
    3 Playoff Games Started
    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 Selection (3) (1955, 1956 & 1957)
    Second Team All-Pro Selection (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 Ten 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)
    Top Ten Finishes: Interception Return Yards (3) (1964, 1965 & 1966)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 65. Interception Return Yards: 666
    78. Interceptions: 40
  • Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: None

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 Thursday, 24 September 2026 20:53
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