NFL Draft 2015: Jim Kelly gets standing ovation, thanks fans for support (Video)

The NFL Draft may be all about welcoming the next generation of players, but Friday night paused to honor Jim Kelly and his courageous battle with cancer — which he won.

Last year at this time, it looked like we were going to lose Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly to cancer. He was bedridden, looked deathly ill and had one of the worst forms of cancer you can have. Things did not look good for Kelly, but he battled back to not only survive for another year but beat he cancer as well.

That battle was honored on Friday night at the NFL Draft, as the Buffalo Bills selection was announced by Kelly and it was a truly touching and special moment. Kelly did more than just announce the pick, he made a declaration that cancer would not stop him and it would not define who he is.

The crowd in attendance showed their partisan support for Kelly by giving him a standing ovation.

It was special, and it was a moment that made us pause and realize just how precious life is.

Kelly’s fight wasn’t easy and it was hard to watch, but he battled through and he is more than just a football hero — he’s a survivor and a legend for so much more than what he did on the gridiron.

Jim Kelly never won a Super Bowl and he couldn’t lift the Bills to the highest height a quarterback can take his team. But that doesn’t matter, as Kelly is so much more than a quarterback. He’s an icon for those who aren’t given a chance against the cruelest thing humans face — cancer.

We’ve lost so many to cancer, even just this year as Stuart Scott is an example of someone who can battle so hard and still lose.

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