Buffalo Bills all-time Mount Rushmore

Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly (12) celebrates a tad early during Super Bowl XXV, a 20-19 loss to the New York Giants on January 27, 1991, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Brown/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly (12) celebrates a tad early during Super Bowl XXV, a 20-19 loss to the New York Giants on January 27, 1991, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Brown/Getty Images) /
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1 Nov 1992: Quarterback Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills passes the ball during a game against the New England Patriots at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 16-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
1 Nov 1992: Quarterback Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills passes the ball during a game against the New England Patriots at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 16-7. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

2. Jim Kelly, QB (1986-96)

Jim Kelly is perhaps the most influential and transcendent player in the history of the Bills. He still resonates with fans today, and he is an all-time favorite among those who support the Bills.

In 1983, the Bills used the 14th pick to select the quarterback out of Miami. Kelly was one of the three all-time great quarterbacks taken in the draft, alongside John Elway and Dan Marino. Although, Kelly did not arrive in Buffalo to play for the team until 1986 at age 26.

Kelly spent those gap years between being drafted and finally showing up to play for the Bills tossing touchdowns for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL.

Eventually, Kelly arrived in frigid Buffalo after spending most of his years playing quarterback in the mild climates of Miami and Houston. But that did not prevent the star from acclimating.

Kelly made the Pro Bowl in his second year in the NFL. But, as mentioned already, it was the adoption of the K-Gun offense that really made things click in Buffalo.

Without Kelly, that offense does not exist. He was the key gear that made everything go, and from 1990-93 he threw for 13,512 yards with 98 touchdowns. His 35,467 yards and 237 scores are both the most in team history.

Kelly not only made a name for himself in Buffalo, he brought the Bills back into relevancy. Since his departure, the franchise has never been able to find a true replacement at quarterback. Well, the jury is still out on Josh Allen.

The fans still adore Kelly to this day, and he has received an incredible amount of support from those people during his bouts with cancer.

As is the case with each player on this list, Kelly will always have that storm of losing four consecutive Super Bowls over his head. That “but” will forever taint his storied career. However, his importance to the Bills will never waver, and he is easily implanted strongly within the team’s Mount Rushmore.