Billy Shaw, drafted in the second round of the 1961 AFL Draft out of Georgia Tech, faced a crucial decision. Picked at the same time by the Dallas Cowboys in the 14th round of the NFL Draft, Shaw chose Western New York because the Bills saw him as a mobile left guard, while Dallas considered him a linebacker. This decision changed the franchise’s course, as Shaw became a key figure in Buffalo's offensive line during its most successful pre-merger period.

In the 1960s, Shaw transformed interior line play with his exceptional speed and agility for an offensive lineman. Instead of just staying stationary as a pass protector, he was a versatile pulling guard, adept at leading sweep plays into open space. Shaw's quickness allowed him to get ahead of runners like Cookie Gilchrist and Wray Carlton, where he delivered powerful blocks against linebackers and defensive backs on the outside. At the same time, he had enough lower-body strength to handle larger interior tackles.

Shaw joined the starting lineup right away as a rookie in 1961, maintaining an elite level of consistency throughout his nine-year career. In 1962, he received his first AFL All-Star nod, beginning an impressive streak of eight consecutive All-Star selections from 1962 to 1969.

Between 1962 and 1966, Shaw received five consecutive First-Team All-AFL honors, anchoring Buffalo's championship offenses. His powerful blocking propelled the Bills to consecutive AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965, notably in 1964 when Buffalo defeated the San Diego Chargers 20-0 with a dominant ground game.

Shaw continued to be a top interior lineman until the end of the decade, earning Second-Team All-AFL honors in 1968 and 1969. He retired after the 1969 season, just before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, he started 116 of his 119 career games and never played for another professional team.

His dominant decade secured his place on the AFL All-Time Team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. The Buffalo Bills honored Shaw by adding him to their Wall of Fame in 1988. In 1999, he made football history by becoming the only player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent his entire professional career exclusively in the American Football League.