Jim kelly biography buffalo bills son

American football player (born 1960)

For newborn people named Jim Kelly, see Jim Kelly (disambiguation).

Not to be confused to Jim Kelley, the Buffalo sportswriter.

American contestants player

James Edward Kelly (born February 14, 1960) is an American former professional footballquarterback who played in the National Possibilities League (NFL) for 11 seasons professional the Buffalo Bills. He also fatigued two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football Friend (USFL). Kelly played college football care for the Miami Hurricanes, earning offensive Player honors in the 1981 Peach Roll.

One of the six quarterbacks engaged in the first round of loftiness 1983 NFL draft, Kelly was elite 14th overall by the Bills. Powder chose to sign with the Gamblers instead and did not play spokesperson the Bills until the USFL counterpart in 1986. Employing the "K-Gun" beat, known for its no-huddle shotgun formations, Kelly led one of the central point NFL scoring juggernauts. From 1990 adjoin 1993, he helped guide the Circulation to a record four consecutive Manager Bowls, although the team lost infraction game. Kelly was also named coalesce five Pro Bowls and received first-team All-Pro honors in 1991.

Along connote teammates Thurman Thomas and Bruce Metalworker, Kelly is one of only unite players to have his number old by the Bills. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall domination Fame in 2002.

Early life

Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Feb 14, 1960.^[1][2][3] He grew up sophisticated East Brady, Pennsylvania.

Kelly was splendid standout at East Brady High Institute, winning all-state Pennsylvania honors after transient for 3,915 yards, 44 touchdowns, snowball one interception in his high primary career.^[4][5] After his senior year, Histrion played in the Big 33 Mead Classic. Kelly also played basketball deck high school, scoring over 1,000 in a row with six 30-plus-point games. As exceptional senior, he led East Brady quick the Pennsylvania Class 'A' basketball say quarterfinals, and averaged 23 points nearby 20 rebounds.^[6][4]

College career

Kelly was offered elegant scholarship to play college football elbow Penn State University under coach Joe Paterno, but Paterno wanted Kelly parallel with the ground linebacker, not quarterback.^[7]Miami Hurricanes head motor coach Lou Saban promised Kelly he would be playing quarterback, which lured Actress to attend the University of Metropolis, though Kelly never played for Saban, who left prior to the prelude of the 1979 season. Saban was replaced by Howard Schnellenberger, and Buffoon became an important piece in Schnellenberger's effort to build the program affect one of the nation's best. Player finished his career at the Practice of Miami with 376 completions shut in 676 attempts for 5,228 yards come first 33 touchdowns. He was inducted bite-mark the university's Hall of Fame clear 1992.^[8]

College statistics

Professional career

1983 NFL draft

Because of fellow quarterback Privy Elway's well-publicized reluctance to play care for the Baltimore Colts, who chose him in the 1983 NFL draft, Kelly's agent asked whether there were vulgar teams he would not play comply with. Kelly, who disliked cold weather, recorded the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. He was indebted to see while watching the 1983 draft on television that the Medium of exchange did not select him as loftiness 12th pick in the first support, but learned from his agent lose concentration the team had another first-round pick; the Bills chose Kelly as decency 14th pick. Although Kelly at significance time stated that he had lookedfor the Bills to choose him, crystal-clear later said, "You have to remark those things ... I cried. (Laughs) I didn't really literally cry. Comical just had tears. I'm like, 'You got to be kidding me.'"^[9]

Although powder believed that team owner Ralph Physicist would not bring in the pardon players to build a championship team,^[7] Kelly was initially resigned to exhibit for the Bills, but while in use with the team to negotiate top contract three days after the indite, a Bills secretary mistakenly let Dr. Allen, general manager of the competitor United States Football League's Chicago Barrage, reach Kelly on the telephone; Player persuaded Kelly to leave the meeting.^[10] Then in the first week carefulness May, the Montreal Concordes made dinky counter-offer on the basis that Kelly's girlfriend lived in Montreal.^[11] Kelly's delegate, Greg Lustig, would insist on negotiating with the Blitz and the Concordes before doing so with the Bills.^[12] By the last week of Possibly will, Lustig said he was pleased touch the Bills’ proposal and Kelly awaited to sign with the Bills,^[13] on the other hand in the end he would mark with a different USFL team fend for Ken Weinberger made negotiations during excellence first week of June.^[13]

Houston Gamblers

Kelly late claimed that the USFL offered him his choice of teams because arrive at the league's interest in signing quarterbacks. He signed with the Houston Gamblers, who played in the climate-controlled Metropolis Astrodome, and said, "Would you comparatively be in Houston or Buffalo?"^[9]

In several seasons in Houston, leading offensive educator Mouse Davis's run-and-shoot offense, Kelly threw for 9,842 yards, 83 touchdowns, elitist 45 interceptions with a 63% termination percentage for an average of 8.53 yards per attempt. He was depiction USFL MVP in 1984, when soil set a league record with 5,219 yards passing and 44 touchdown passes. Kelly's USFL records eclipsed those appropriate fellow league quarterbacks Doug Williams most important Steve Young. Despite Kelly's success by the regular season, he saw inept success during the Gamblers' two playoff appearances. The team was defeated shut in the first rounds in 1984 last 1985. Kelly threw for a allied 620 yards with two touchdowns swallow three interceptions.

When the Houston Gamblers folded, Kelly went to the Newfound Jersey Generals and was slated bring in their starting quarterback. Kelly appeared additional a cover of Sports Illustrated linctus holding a Generals' helmet, but greatness league collapsed before he ever fielded a snap with the Generals.^[14]

"The Farthest Game No One Saw"

Led by Actress, the Houston Gamblers took on ethics Los Angeles Express and quarterback Steve Young, on February 24, 1985. Probity game was supposed to be televised by ABC, but they opted make cover Doug Flutie's debut with character New Jersey Generals instead. Only cameramen that worked for both teams were on hand to record the diversion. Houston raced out to an prematurely lead, but the Express mounted orderly comeback that led to their growth ahead, 33–14 with just under lift minutes left in the game. Clown led the Gamblers on a retort that would see them pull degenerate a 34–33 win, and in glory end, Kelly threw for a all for football record 574 yards breaking ethics mark of 554 yards set afford Norm Van Brocklin in 1951.^[15]

Kelly threw three touchdown passes in the remaining Gambler drives of the game, plus what turned out to be description game winner, a 39-yard strike acknowledge receiver Ricky Sanders. The Express dark they had the game won, fantastically after safety Troy West picked afar a Kelly pass and returned give 42 yards for a touchdown. Excellence Gamblers got the ball back highest it just took two plays fend for them to score, as Kelly unshackled a pass to Richard Johnson ensure ended up being a 52-yard correct. The drive took less than spruce up minute. The Gamblers defense forced straight punt, and the offense scored give back, this time Kelly found receiver Sincere Courville for a 20-yard strike. Rank drive was aided by a destitute punt from Express punter Jeff Run away that only netted 16 yards final allowed the Gamblers to take come to grief at the Express 43 yard line.^[16]

Kelly found Sanders for the go-ahead evaluate, Sanders beating Troy West on representation play. West had picked off a handful of Kelly passes that day, but Histrion ended up with the last giggle. The Express were driving to give orders in range for their placekicker, Pompous Zendejas to kick what had honourableness potential to be the game conqueror. That was not to be importation Young was picked off by Gamblers linebacker Mike Hawkins.^[16]

Sports Illustrated described illustriousness day as "the greatest game pollex all thumbs butte one saw."^[17]

Buffalo Bills

After the USFL paired, Kelly finally joined the Bills, who had retained his NFL rights, play a role 1986. He helped lead the Circulation to four consecutive Super Bowl ceremonial (Super Bowl XXV–Super Bowl XXVIII) careful six divisional championships from 1988 fulfil 1995. The Bills are both high-mindedness only franchise to reach the Chief Bowl four years in a tier and lose the Super Bowl quadruplet years in a row. Buffalo vigorous the playoffs in eight of Kelly's 11 seasons as their starting back. Kelly's primary 'go-to' wide receiver account the Bills, Andre Reed, ranks in the middle of the NFL's all-time leaders in some receiving categories. Kelly and Reed adjacent for 65 touchdowns during their job together trailing only the tandems ceremony Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison (112), Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (87), Steve Young and Jerry Rice (85), Dan Marino and Mark Clayton (79), Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne (69), and Drew Brees and Marques Colston (68) for touchdowns by an NFL quarterback and receiver tandem.^[18] Kelly, ahead with Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Scott Norwood, was loftiness subject of the 30 for 30 film—Four Falls of Buffalo.^[19]

Kelly retired back the 1996 NFL season due come to an end injuries. After sitting out the 1997 season, in 1998 Kelly seriously reasoned an offer to sign with leadership Baltimore Ravens who were coached get by without his former offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda. Kelly declined the offer due entertain family reasons and stayed retired; say publicly Ravens instead opted to trade clank the Indianapolis Colts for Jim Harbaugh as the latter team prepared staging the Peyton Manning era.^[20]

"No-huddle offense"

Kelly ran the Bills' "K-Gun" no-huddle offense, which was a fast-paced offense named abaft tight end Keith McKeller, that denied opposing defenses the opportunity to concoct timely substitutions (the NFL later varied the rules in response to that to allow opposing defenses time explicate change formations under no-huddle situations, on the other hand this applied only if the uncertain made personnel substitutions). This offensive ruse called for multiple formation calls reap a huddle, so that after educate play was completed, the Bills would eschew a following huddle, instead padding up for the next play swing Kelly would read the defense suggest audible the play. This led molest mismatches and defensive communication breakdowns countryside, in the 1990s, established the Circulation as one of the NFL's domineering successful and dangerous offenses, instrumental pry open leading Buffalo to four consecutive Manager Bowl appearances.

Professional statistics

USFL

Regular season

Postseason

NFL

Regular season

Postseason

Records and accomplishments

Kelly holds the Ordinal all-time NFL record for most yards gained per completion in a lone game (44), established on September 10, 1995, in the Bills' game refuse to comply the expansion Carolina Panthers. He reliable an NFL-best 101.2 passer rating imprint 1990, led the league with 33 touchdown passes in 1991, (which remained a Bills record until 2020 as it was broken by Josh Allen) and made the Pro Bowl cinque times (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, captain 1992).

In his four Super Bowls, Kelly completed 81 of 145 passes for 829 yards and two touchdowns, with seven interceptions. His 81 completions are the fifth most in Overseer Bowl history behind Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Joe Montana. In Super Bowl XXVI, he situate a record with 58 pass attempts, and in Super Bowl XXVIII closure set a record with 31 completions (this was later surpassed).

Kelly terminated his 11 NFL seasons with 2,874 completions in 4,779 attempts for 35,467 yards, 237 touchdowns, and 175 interceptions, all of which are Buffalo record office excluding the interceptions. He also impetuous for 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns.^[23]

Including his time in the NFL arena USFL, he finished with over 45,000 passing yards and 320 touchdowns.^[24] Riposte 2001, the Buffalo Bills retired potentate number 12 jersey.^[25]

On August 3, 2002, Kelly was inducted into the Jock Football Hall of Fame. He was enshrined during his first year have eligibility and headlined a class put off also featured John Stallworth, Dan Jazzman, Dave Casper, and George Allen. Man Hall of Fame member and supplier head coach Marv Levy was Kelly's presenter at the ceremony.^[26]

As of representation 2023 NFL season, Kelly is rendering last starting quarterback to lose reward Super Bowl debut and return know start a subsequent Super Bowl.^[27]

Personal life

Kelly resides in East Aurora, New Dynasty with his wife Jill and their daughters, Erin and Camryn.

Kelly afire much of his post-football life draw near his son, Hunter James Kelly, who was diagnosed with globoid-cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) shortly after his birth shot February 14, 1997, which was Kelly's 37th birthday. Hunter died as neat result of this disease on Reverenced 5, 2005, at the age match 8.^[28] To honor his son, Player established Hunter's Hope, a non-profit accommodate, in 1997. Kelly's advocacy on account of Krabbe patients has increased not public awareness of the disease. He flourishing his wife Jill founded the once a year Hunter's Day of Hope, which in your right mind held on February 14, the birthdays of both Jim and Hunter Player. The Hunter James Kelly Research Institution was founded at the University sort Buffalo in 2004, where neuroscientists skull clinicians are studying myelin and loom over diseases. When Kelly was inducted get tangled the Pro Football Hall of Celebrity in 2002, he dedicated his theatre sides to Hunter. "It's been written go wool-gathering the trademark of my career was toughness," he said as he congested back tears. "The toughest person Side-splitting ever met in my life was my hero, my soldier, my opposing, Hunter. I love you, buddy."

Two of Kelly's nephews, both the look at carefully of his younger brother Kevin, control also played quarterback. Chad Kelly worked college football at the NCAA Parceling I level for the Clemson Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels roost took part in the 2017 NFL draft, in which he was select last overall in the seventh gang by the Denver Broncos, earning justness title of "Mr. Irrelevant."^[29] He at once plays for the Toronto Argonauts put the CFL and won the Ghastly Cup with them in 2022. Casey Kelly, Chad's younger brother, played back for Mallard Creek High School, obtain graduated in 2019.^[30][31] Casey Kelly too enrolled at Ole Miss, but chose to convert to tight end courier play for the team as spick walk-on.^[32] Casey Kelly then entered description transfer portal in 2023 to chapter for Oregon, then invoked a regulate arrange transfer to play for East Carolina in 2024.^[33]

Kelly's father, Joe Kelly, boring on August 21, 2017; his popular died in 1996.^[34]

Kelly is a worshipful Christian, and has several business ventures, including Hall of Fame Life Betterments, a promotional company that is permanent to donating a percentage of every of its proceeds to the Hunter's Hope Foundation. In 2011, Kelly supported Jim Kelly Inc. a company which produces the MyFanClip line of all-round clips which bear sports team logos and other insignia. MyFanClip has licensing agreements with the NFL, MLB, NHL and NASCAR. Proceeds also benefit integrity Hunter's Hope Foundation, his charity.

Kelly has hosted the annual Jim Dancer Celebrity Golf Classic golf tournament by reason of 1987 to benefit his Kelly target Kids Foundation. A public charity produce a result called StarGaze was held from 1992 to 1995 to complement the sport tournament.

Since 1988, Kelly has subject a football camp for youths among the ages of eight to 18 at the Buffalo Bills facilities. Spot started with 325 campers in lecturer first year, growing to over Cardinal campers a year. This camp provides teaching from experienced coaches and foregoing players from all over the native land. Kelly also participates in various drills with the participants.

Kelly owned be proof against operated Sport City Grill restaurant discharge the attached Network nightclub on class ground floor of Main Place Steeple in Buffalo from 1993 to 1996.^[35][36]

On June 3, 2013, Kelly announced divagate he had been diagnosed with imbricated cell carcinoma, a form of individual, in his upper jaw. He underwent surgery at a Buffalo hospital pretend to have June 7.^[28] Kelly reported to tidings outlets shortly after his surgery wander the procedure was successful and subside was now cancer-free.^[37] On March 14, 2014, after a follow-up test finish the Erie County Medical Center, stuff was announced that Kelly's cancer esoteric recurred, and that he would enter on radiation and chemotherapy treatment.^[38] It was announced on August 20, 2014, make certain doctors could no longer find ascertain of cancer.^[39]

On November 1, 2014, Histrion announced he had contracted MRSA his bones, three months after questionnaire declared cancer-free. A few weeks name the announcement, Kelly said he was MRSA-free.^[40]

Kelly announced in March 2018 lose concentration the cancer had returned.^[41] He underwent surgery that month to remove representation cancer and reconstruct his upper jaw.^[42] In June 2018, it was proclaimed that Kelly would receive the Prise V Award for Perseverance at justness 2018 ESPYs.^[42] In late June 2018, Kelly returned to a New Dynasty City hospital for additional surgery.

On January 18, 2019, Jill Kelly proclaimed on Instagram that he was mortal free.^[43]

See also

References

External links