Who are the ten biggest Buffalo Bills of all time?

Nobody circles the wagons just like the Buffalo Bills, however there have been a handful of gamers who circled these wagons higher than others in franchise historical past.

The Bills did not attain the highest within the NFL period, however they captured quite a few AFL titles of their first seasons as a franchise within the Sixties. They’ve been up and down since then, changing into the primary staff to play in 4 consecutive Super Bowls within the Nineties earlier than lacking the playoffs 17 consecutive seasons.

Nowadays, Buffalo has persistently been probably the greatest groups within the league. The 2024 season marked the sixth consecutive yr it reached the playoffs and its fifth consecutive yr successful the AFC East.

As the Bills chase that elusive Super Bowl title, listed here are the ten finest gamers of their franchise historical past.

10.Jack Kemp (1962-1969)

Kemp could also be one of many few NFL stars finest identified for his or her profession off the gridiron. Before changing into a politician and vice presidential candidate, Kemp emerged as one of many first nice gamers in Bills historical past. He additionally arrived in Buffalo in an uncommon method. Coming off an AFL All-Star season, Kemp was launched by the Chargers in the beginning of the 1962 season after breaking his finger, along with his former staff making an attempt to cover it. The Bills famous, nonetheless, that Kemp was on waivers, requesting the quarterback pay a $100 fee. He missed a lot of the 1962 season, however was once more named an AFL All-Star. He was additionally named an All-Star in every of the following 4 seasons, serving to Buffalo attain the AFL playoffs in 4 consecutive years. He additionally led the Bills to the AFL title within the 1964 and 1965 seasons.

9.Billy Shaw (1961-1969)

Shaw was a part of the offensive line that allowed Kemp to change into probably the greatest quarterbacks within the AFL and the Bills to change into a playoff mainstay within the Sixties. He was an eight-time All-Star and was named to the AFL All-Time staff in 1970. He really needed to play protection when he was drafted, enjoying a two-way lineman in school. Instead, he was so good as a guard that he was the one participant to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after by no means enjoying within the NFL.

8.Steve Tasker (1986-1997)

It’s tough for a particular groups member to face out within the NFL, however Tasker did so throughout the Bills’ string of Super Bowl appearances within the early Nineties and longer. He was named All-Pro 5 instances and Pro Bowler seven instances in his 12 seasons with the Bills, successful Pro Bowl Game MVP in 1993. But his excellence as a gunner (204 tackles) and on the punt block staff (seven punt blocks profession) helped the Bills attain 4 consecutive Super Bowls. Some think about Tasker the perfect non-kicker particular groups participant in historical past, main him to calls to be within the Hall of Fame regardless of enjoying an ignored place.

7. Joe DeLamielleure (1973-1979, 1985)

For OJ Simpson to emerge as one of the crucial productive working backs of all time, he wanted assist from the offensive line. DeLamielleure was one in all these key blockers, serving as an integral a part of the “Electric Company” offensive line. The guard was a six-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro (three on the primary staff) throughout his Bills profession, additionally paving the best way for the Bills to change into one of many least sacked groups within the mid-Nineteen Seventies.

6. André Reed (1985-1999)

Not many vast receivers have been produced at Reed’s stage within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. The seven-time Pro Bowler was prime 10 in receptions 5 instances and prime 10 in receiving touchdowns 4 instances in his profession, however he could also be finest identified for his playoff heroics. He recorded at the very least two receiving touchdowns within the postseason of every of the Bills’ first three Super Bowl journeys. His most memorable efficiency got here within the 32-point comeback win in 1992, catching three touchdowns as a part of the win over the Houston Oilers. When he retired, Reed ranked second all-time in receptions (951). He was additionally within the prime three in Super Bowl receptions and yards on the time of his retirement.

5. OJ Simpson (1969-1977)

Simpson had one of the crucial dominant streaks ever for a working again, incomes 5 consecutive Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro nominations within the Nineteen Seventies. He additionally completed within the prime 4 in MVP voting 4 instances throughout that span, successful the award when he had arguably the perfect season ever for a working again in 1973. Simpson rushed for two,003 yards that yr, probably the most ever for a working again within the 14-game period. His 11,236 profession speeding yards have been the second-most in NFL historical past on the time of his retirement.

Allen might be the perfect participant in Bills historical past when his profession is over. But by his first seven seasons, he has already confirmed himself robust sufficient to be thought-about one of many Bills’ 5 finest gamers ever. Allen guided the Bills to the type of success they hadn’t had because the early Nineties, main them to 5 straight AFC East titles. During that point he additionally developed into one of the crucial harmful dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL historical past, speeding for at the very least 400 yards and 6 touchdowns in every of the primary seven seasons of his profession. His 65 profession speeding touchdowns are the second-most by a quarterback as of the tip of the 2024 common season.

Of course, Allen additionally confirmed skill as a passer. He was top-10 in passing yards and touchdowns 5 years of his profession, incomes three Pro Bowl nominations. He may additionally win his first MVP for his play within the 2024 season.

3. Thurman Thomas (1988-1999)

Thomas was one of many first nice dual-threat working backs in NFL historical past. Catching passes from Jim Kelly, Thomas led the NFL in complete scrimmage yards in 4 of his first 5 seasons. This helped him earn 5 Pro Bowl nominations over the course of his profession. He additionally gained MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1991, speeding for 1,407 yards and 7 touchdowns on his solution to 631 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns that season. That yr additionally marked one in all 4 consecutive seasons through which the Bills reached the Super Bowl. The earlier season, he had 190 complete yards from scrimmage and a landing in a loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. He additionally had postseason data for many touchdowns (21) and consecutive video games with a landing (9) when he retired.

2.Jim Kelly (1986-1996)

You cannot pass over the person who steered the ship for these nice Bills groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Kelly, who initially didn’t need to be part of the Bills, finally joined the staff in 1986 after the USFL disbanded. He shortly turned one of the crucial expert passers in league historical past, posting 9 seasons through which he completed within the prime 10 in passing touchdowns and one other six through which he completed within the prime 10 in passing yards.

Kelly was additionally a five-time Pro Bowler in his profession, memorably main the Bills to 4 consecutive AFC titles from 1990 to 1993. Buffalo additionally made the postseason eight instances in Kelly’s 11 years as quarterback, making him a no brainer within the Hall of Famer.

1. Bruce Smith (1985-1999)

Smith spent 15 of his 19 dominant seasons in Buffalo, changing into arguably the best pass-rusher of all time as he performed a significant function within the Bills’ run to 4 straight Super Bowls. He recorded double-digit sack seasons 12 instances in a 13-year span between 1986 and 1998, enjoying simply 5 video games as a consequence of harm the yr he did not attain that mark. Becoming a Pro Bowl and All-Pro mainstay for a lot of his profession (awarded 11 instances in each), Smith twice gained the NFL’s prime defensive award. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 with 19 sacks, including one other when he recorded a security in Super Bowl XXV. He gained his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996, when he recorded a career-high 5 pressured fumbles.

When Smith retired with Washington after the 2003 season, he had 200 profession sacks, probably the most in NFL historical past. He had 171 with the Bills. So, it is no shock that he was ranked as the perfect Bills participant ever after being ranked as the perfect pass-rusher ever by FOX Sports.

Honorable mentions:

• Darryl Talley
• Kyle Williams
• Kent Hull
• Gilchrist biscuit
• Cornelius Bennett

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