The 6’-4” 225 quarterback spent two seasons with the Gamblers and threw for 9,842 yards and a whopping 83 touchdowns per the ProFootballHOF.com website. When the USFL folded Jim signed on with the NFL team that originally drafted him, the Bills in 1986. It was a perfect fit for both parties as Kelly ran the famed “no Huddle” fast paced offense of Coach Marv Levy to a tee. Having offensive weapons like running back Thurmon Thomas and receivers Andre Reid and James Lofton didn’t hurt either.

The Bills played in four straight Super Bowls in the 1990’s led by Kelly’s arm. In Jim’s 11 seasons with the Bills, he led the Bills to the AFC playoffs eight times. In those 17 playoff appearances, including four the Super Bowls, Kelly tossed the ball for 3,863 yards and 21 touchdowns! Jim Kelly was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Career History

✦ Houston Gamblers (1984–1985)

✦ Buffalo Bills (1986–1996)

Career Highlights and Awards

✦ USFL Most Valuable Player (1984)

✦ USFL Rookie of the Year (1984)

✦ 2× First-team All-USFL (1984, 1985)

✦ First-team All-Pro (1991)

✦ Second-team All-Pro (1992)

✦ 5× Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1990–1992)

✦ NFL passing touchdowns leader (1991)

✦ NFL passer rating leader (1990)

✦ NFL completion percentage leader (1990)

✦ Second-team All-South Independent (1981)

✦ Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame

✦ Buffalo Bills 50th Anniversary Team

✦ Buffalo Bills No. 12 retired

✦ USFL All-Time Team

✦ University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame

✦ NCAA Inspiration Award (2018)

Career NFL Statistics

✦ Passing attempts: 4,779

✦ Passing completions: 2,874

✦ Completion percentage: 60.1%

✦ TD–INT: 237–175

✦ Passing yards: 35,467

✦ Passer rating: 84.4

Stats at Pro Football Reference
Jim Kelly. (2025, February 1). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kelly