Since their inception in 1960, the Buffalo Bills have had an army of players take to the field. Buffalo has had countless pro bowlers and hall-of-fame players who have won the hearts of millions of fans. During their history, many of these players have not only made an impact on the team’s history but on the NFL as a whole.
If you’re a Buffalo Bills fanatic, you’re sure to have your favourites on the team. However, we are going to dive a little deeper and take a look at the top players to have ever graced the field over the last seven decades.
Bruce Smith
Amongst Buffalo Bills fans, Bruce Smith is regarded as one of the best pass rushers of all time. Smith is the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks with an impressive 200 to his name. The star made 11 pro bowls with the Bills and was known as the first-team all-pro eight times. Smith has also had 43 forced fumbles throughout his career which showcased his talent in making plays on defence. The legend played a significant role in the Bills’ run of 4 straight Super Bowl appearances too. What’s more, Smith earned his spot in the hall of fame in 2009. Fans will remember Smith as a legendary player who dominated the NFL for 15 seasons.
Jim Kelly
There’s no doubt about it. Jim Kelly is the best quarterback in the Bills’ history. The legend is the Bills’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns and yards. Kelly led the Bills to 4 consecutive Super Bowls during the 1990s. He also made five pro bowls appearances and lead the NFL in passing touchdowns in 1991. The star launched his Bills career at the late age of 26 after boycotting playing for the franchise after they brought him in the 1983 NFL draft. Kelly was inducted into the hall of fame in 2002 and will forever be known as one of the top quarterbacks in NFL history. Before checking out who else joins Kelly in the hall of fame, why not head to Online Casinos and look at their best betting apps?
Thurman Thomas
Another brilliant player from the 1990s Bills is Thurman Thomas. He had 880 rushing yards during his rookie season with Buffalo and went from strength to strength. During his sophomore season, Thomas made a pro bowl before following this up with two consecutive first-team all-pro seasons. During this time, Thomas won an offensive player of the year award. Thomas is known as the Bills’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and yards. His five total pro bowls and eight consecutive seasons with 1,000 rushing yards are major reasons why Thomas earned a place in the 2007 hall of fame. There’s no denying why Thomas is the Buffalo Bills’ greatest running back.
Andre Reed
Staying on the 90s Bills, we move on to Andre Reed. He had a slightly different trajectory to success as a fourth-round pick in the NFL 1985 draft. Reed has average seasons during his initial seasons with Buffalo. However, once he got into his fourth season, we saw Reed finally make his first pro bowl. Following this, Reed would go on a run of 7 consecutive pro bowl appearances. The legend played 15 seasons as a Buffalo Bills. Reed entered the 2014 hall of fame and is widely regarded as an all-time leader in receiving touchdowns and yards.
Jack Kemp
While Kemp may have only played for seven seasons as a Bill, he certainly had a dominant run with the franchise. Kemp had six pro bowl appearances during his time with Buffalo, including a first-time all-pro season in 1965. This saw him with the AFL MVP. What’s more, Kemp secured 2 AFL championships with the team before the 1966 NFL merger. Kemp was the second star to be welcomed into the Bills’ ring of honour. He was a quarterback that led the team into the NFL era and is the only one to win a championship. All these accomplishments will keep Kemp on the lips of Bills fans forever.
O.J. Simpson
Arguably the most famous Bills player of all time (for the right and wrong reasons)., O.J. Simpson recorded the first 2,000-yard rushing season in NFL history. The star has an average start to his career. However, during his rookie season, he did make a pro bowl. It was in 1972 that Simpson broke out to be the star he’s known for today. Simpson dominated the early 70s, earning an NFL MVP and the offensive player of the year. While many of us know O.J. Simpson for being tried for the murders of his former wife and friend, there’s no denying the impact he made on the footballing world.
Joe DeLamielleure
Buffalo Bills drafted DeLamielleure in the first round of the NFL 1973 draft. During his rookie season, the star began on the offensive line. This led O.J. Simpson to the first 2,000-yard rushing season. DeLamielleure continued to play brilliant football with the team, making five pro bowls. The star also had three consecutive first-team all-pro seasons throughout this time. DeLamielleure was also welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. This was mainly down to him beginning 105 games for the Bills over seven seasons. DeLamielleure was credited as the offensive lineman of the year in 1973, 1975, and 1977.
Steve Tasker
Steve Tasker is an innovator who transformed the NFL landscape thanks to his play. The star joined the Bills clan in 1986. Shortly after, he would earn a pro-bowl appearance in his first full season with the team. Tasker would eventually go on to earn seven total pro bowls nominations. During his 13-year career, Tasker made a total of 51 receptions. The star was drafted in the 9th round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. After playing only nine games with the team, Tasker was signed by the Bills of waivers in November 1986.
When you take a look at any of the players above, it’s safe to say the Bills franchise has enjoyed a plethora of highs. With many of the Buffalo Bills players finding themselves in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, these stars made their mark in the sport and cemented a legacy like no other.