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Jim Kelly

Updated: Wikipedia source

Jim Kelly

James Edward Kelly (born February 14, 1960) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He also spent two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Kelly played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning offensive MVP honors in the 1981 Peach Bowl. One of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, Kelly was selected 14th overall by the Bills. He chose to sign with the Gamblers instead and did not play for the Bills until the USFL folded in 1986. Employing the "K-Gun" offense, known for its no-huddle shotgun formations, Kelly led one of the greatest NFL scoring juggernauts. From 1990 to 1993, he helped guide the Bills to a record four consecutive Super Bowls, although the team lost each game. Kelly was also named to five Pro Bowls and received first-team All-Pro honors in 1991. Along with teammates Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, Kelly is one of only three players to have his number retired by the Bills. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Infobox

Position
Quarterback
Born
(1960-02-14) February 14, 1960 (age 65)Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight
217 lb (98 kg)
High school
East Brady (East Brady, Pennsylvania)
College
Miami (FL) (1978–1982)
NFL draft
1983: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Passing attempts
4,779
Passing completions
2,874
Completion percentage
60.1%
TD–INT
237–175
Passing yards
35,467
Passer rating
84.4

Tables

· College career › College statistics
GP
GP
Season
GP
Team
Record
Games
Att
Games
Cmp
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
1979
1979
Season
1979
Team
Miami
Games
11
Games
5–6
Passing
104
Passing
48
Passing
46.2
Passing
721
Passing
5
Passing
6
Passing
108.7
1980
1980
Season
1980
Team
Miami
Games
12
Games
9–3
Passing
206
Passing
109
Passing
52.9
Passing
1,519
Passing
11
Passing
7
Passing
125.7
1981
1981
Season
1981
Team
Miami
Games
11
Games
9–2
Passing
285
Passing
168
Passing
59.4
Passing
2,403
Passing
14
Passing
14
Passing
136.2
1982
1982
Season
1982
Team
Miami
Games
3
Games
2–1
Passing
81
Passing
51
Passing
63.0
Passing
585
Passing
3
Passing
1
Passing
133.4
Career
Career
Season
Career
Team
37
Games
30–15
Games
676
Passing
376
Passing
55.6
Passing
5,228
Passing
33
Passing
28
Passing
128.4
Season
Team
Games
Passing
GP
Record
Att
Cmp
Pct
Yds
TD
Int
Rtg
1979
Miami
11
5–6
104
48
46.2
721
5
6
108.7
1980
Miami
12
9–3
206
109
52.9
1,519
11
7
125.7
1981
Miami
11
9–2
285
168
59.4
2,403
14
14
136.2
1982
Miami
3
2–1
81
51
63.0
585
3
1
133.4
Career
37
30–15
676
376
55.6
5,228
33
28
128.4
· Professional statistics › USFL › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Avg
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
1984
1984
Year
1984
Team
Houston Gamblers
Games
18
Games
13–5
Passing
370
Passing
587
Passing
63.0
Passing
5,219
Passing
8.9
Passing
44
Passing
26
Passing
98.2
1985
1985
Year
1985
Team
Houston Gamblers
Games
18
Games
10–8
Passing
360
Passing
567
Passing
63.5
Passing
4,623
Passing
8.2
Passing
39
Passing
19
Passing
97.9
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
36
Games
23–13
Games
730
Passing
1,154
Passing
63.3
Passing
9,842
Passing
8.5
Passing
83
Passing
45
Passing
98.0
Year
Team
Games
Passing
GP
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Avg
TD
Int
Rtg
1984
Houston Gamblers
18
13–5
370
587
63.0
5,219
8.9
44
26
98.2
1985
Houston Gamblers
18
10–8
360
567
63.5
4,623
8.2
39
19
97.9
Career
36
23–13
730
1,154
63.3
9,842
8.5
83
45
98.0
· Professional statistics › USFL › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Avg
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
1984
1984
Year
1984
Team
Houston Gamblers
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
23
Passing
34
Passing
67.6
Passing
301
Passing
8.6
Passing
0
Passing
2
1985
1985
Year
1985
Team
Houston Gamblers
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
23
Passing
40
Passing
57.5
Passing
319
Passing
7.8
Passing
2
Passing
1
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
2
Games
0–2
Games
46
Passing
74
Passing
62.2
Passing
620
Passing
8.4
Passing
2
Passing
3
Year
Team
Games
Passing
GP
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Avg
TD
Int
1984
Houston Gamblers
1
0–1
23
34
67.6
301
8.6
0
2
1985
Houston Gamblers
1
0–1
23
40
57.5
319
7.8
2
1
Career
2
0–2
46
74
62.2
620
8.4
2
3
· Professional statistics › NFL › Regular season
Bold
Bold
Legend
Bold
Legend
Career high
Legend
Led the league
Bold
Career high
· Professional statistics › NFL › Regular season
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Avg
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
1986
1986
Year
1986
Team
BUF
Games
16
Games
16
Games
4–12
Passing
285
Passing
480
Passing
59.4
Passing
3,593
Passing
7.5
Passing
22
Passing
17
Passing
83.3
1987
1987
Year
1987
Team
BUF
Games
12
Games
12
Games
6–6
Passing
250
Passing
419
Passing
59.7
Passing
2,798
Passing
6.7
Passing
19
Passing
11
Passing
83.8
1988
1988
Year
1988
Team
BUF
Games
16
Games
16
Games
12–4
Passing
269
Passing
452
Passing
59.5
Passing
3,380
Passing
7.5
Passing
15
Passing
17
Passing
78.2
1989
1989
Year
1989
Team
BUF
Games
13
Games
13
Games
6–7
Passing
228
Passing
391
Passing
58.3
Passing
3,130
Passing
8.0
Passing
25
Passing
18
Passing
86.2
1990
1990
Year
1990
Team
BUF
Games
14
Games
14
Games
12–2
Passing
219
Passing
346
Passing
63.3
Passing
2,829
Passing
8.2
Passing
24
Passing
9
Passing
101.2
1991
1991
Year
1991
Team
BUF
Games
15
Games
15
Games
13–2
Passing
304
Passing
474
Passing
64.1
Passing
3,844
Passing
8.1
Passing
33
Passing
17
Passing
97.6
1992
1992
Year
1992
Team
BUF
Games
16
Games
16
Games
11–5
Passing
269
Passing
462
Passing
58.2
Passing
3,457
Passing
7.5
Passing
23
Passing
19
Passing
81.2
1993
1993
Year
1993
Team
BUF
Games
16
Games
16
Games
12–4
Passing
288
Passing
470
Passing
61.3
Passing
3,382
Passing
7.2
Passing
18
Passing
18
Passing
79.9
1994
1994
Year
1994
Team
BUF
Games
14
Games
14
Games
7–7
Passing
285
Passing
448
Passing
63.6
Passing
3,114
Passing
7.0
Passing
22
Passing
17
Passing
84.6
1995
1995
Year
1995
Team
BUF
Games
15
Games
15
Games
10–5
Passing
255
Passing
458
Passing
55.7
Passing
3,130
Passing
6.8
Passing
22
Passing
13
Passing
81.1
1996
1996
Year
1996
Team
BUF
Games
13
Games
13
Games
8–5
Passing
222
Passing
379
Passing
58.6
Passing
2,810
Passing
7.4
Passing
14
Passing
19
Passing
73.2
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
160
Games
160
Games
101–59
Games
2,874
Passing
4,779
Passing
60.1
Passing
35,467
Passing
7.4
Passing
237
Passing
175
Passing
84.4
Year
Team
Games
Passing
GP
GS
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Avg
TD
Int
Rtg
1986
BUF
16
16
4–12
285
480
59.4
3,593
7.5
22
17
83.3
1987
BUF
12
12
6–6
250
419
59.7
2,798
6.7
19
11
83.8
1988
BUF
16
16
12–4
269
452
59.5
3,380
7.5
15
17
78.2
1989
BUF
13
13
6–7
228
391
58.3
3,130
8.0
25
18
86.2
1990
BUF
14
14
12–2
219
346
63.3
2,829
8.2
24
9
101.2
1991
BUF
15
15
13–2
304
474
64.1
3,844
8.1
33
17
97.6
1992
BUF
16
16
11–5
269
462
58.2
3,457
7.5
23
19
81.2
1993
BUF
16
16
12–4
288
470
61.3
3,382
7.2
18
18
79.9
1994
BUF
14
14
7–7
285
448
63.6
3,114
7.0
22
17
84.6
1995
BUF
15
15
10–5
255
458
55.7
3,130
6.8
22
13
81.1
1996
BUF
13
13
8–5
222
379
58.6
2,810
7.4
14
19
73.2
Career
160
160
101–59
2,874
4,779
60.1
35,467
7.4
237
175
84.4
· Professional statistics › NFL › Postseason
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Record
Games
Cmp
Games
Att
Passing
Pct
Passing
Yds
Passing
Avg
Passing
TD
Passing
Int
Passing
Rtg
1988
1988
Year
1988
Team
BUF
Games
2
Games
2
Games
1–1
Passing
33
Passing
63
Passing
52.4
Passing
407
Passing
6.5
Passing
1
Passing
4
Passing
51.5
1989
1989
Year
1989
Team
BUF
Games
1
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
28
Passing
54
Passing
51.9
Passing
405
Passing
7.5
Passing
4
Passing
2
Passing
85.8
1990
1990
Year
1990
Team
BUF
Games
3
Games
3
Games
2–1
Passing
54
Passing
82
Passing
65.9
Passing
851
Passing
10.4
Passing
5
Passing
2
Passing
110.4
1991
1991
Year
1991
Team
BUF
Games
3
Games
3
Games
2–1
Passing
64
Passing
118
Passing
54.2
Passing
665
Passing
5.6
Passing
5
Passing
9
Passing
53.1
1992
1992
Year
1992
Team
BUF
Games
2
Games
2
Games
3–1
Passing
21
Passing
31
Passing
67.7
Passing
259
Passing
8.4
Passing
1
Passing
4
Passing
64.5
1993
1993
Year
1993
Team
BUF
Games
3
Games
3
Games
2–1
Passing
75
Passing
114
Passing
65.8
Passing
707
Passing
6.2
Passing
2
Passing
1
Passing
84.9
1995
1995
Year
1995
Team
BUF
Games
2
Games
2
Games
1–1
Passing
26
Passing
51
Passing
51.0
Passing
330
Passing
6.5
Passing
2
Passing
5
Passing
45.0
1996
1996
Year
1996
Team
BUF
Games
1
Games
1
Games
0–1
Passing
21
Passing
32
Passing
65.6
Passing
239
Passing
7.5
Passing
1
Passing
1
Passing
85.3
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
17
Games
17
Games
11–8
Games
322
Passing
545
Passing
59.1
Passing
3,863
Passing
7.1
Passing
21
Passing
28
Passing
72.3
Year
Team
Games
Passing
GP
GS
Record
Cmp
Att
Pct
Yds
Avg
TD
Int
Rtg
1988
BUF
2
2
1–1
33
63
52.4
407
6.5
1
4
51.5
1989
BUF
1
1
0–1
28
54
51.9
405
7.5
4
2
85.8
1990
BUF
3
3
2–1
54
82
65.9
851
10.4
5
2
110.4
1991
BUF
3
3
2–1
64
118
54.2
665
5.6
5
9
53.1
1992
BUF
2
2
3–1
21
31
67.7
259
8.4
1
4
64.5
1993
BUF
3
3
2–1
75
114
65.8
707
6.2
2
1
84.9
1995
BUF
2
2
1–1
26
51
51.0
330
6.5
2
5
45.0
1996
BUF
1
1
0–1
21
32
65.6
239
7.5
1
1
85.3
Career
17
17
11–8
322
545
59.1
3,863
7.1
21
28
72.3

References

  1. NFL.com
    http://www.nfl.com/players/jimkelly/profile?id=KEL581385
  2. buffalobills.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071116143146/http://www.buffalobills.com/history/HOFKelly.jsp
  3. ESPN
    https://insider.espn.com/nfl/players
  4. jimkelly.com
    https://jimkelly.com/east-brady%2C-pa
  5. "East Brady, PA: The High School Years"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071112001021/http://www.jimkelly.com/scrapbook/career_Highschool.htm
  6. piaa.org
    http://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/results/Winter/Basketball/1978_A_Boys_BB.pdf
  7. ESPN Page 2
    https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=neumann/101014_jim_kelly_buffalo_bills
  8. "University of Miami... Quarterback U"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071112010818/http://www.jimkelly.com/scrapbook/career_quarterbackU.htm
  9. 30 for 30
  10. The Buffalo News
  11. The Ottawa Citizen
  12. The Buffalo News
  13. The Buffalo News
  14. Sports Illustrated (SI Vault)
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110310164253/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9019/index.htm
  15. "Sports Illustrated Called It "The Greatest Game No One Saw""
    https://www.thesportscol.com/2017/05/sports-illustrated-called-it-greatest-game-no-one-saw/
  16. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-02-25-sp-33480-story.html
  17. "Sports Illustrated Called It "The Greatest Game No One Saw""
    https://www.thesportscol.com/2017/05/sports-illustrated-called-it-greatest-game-no-one-saw/
  18. "From East Brady to Canton..."
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071112010803/http://www.jimkelly.com/scrapbook/career_bills_reed.htm
  19. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/watch/film/f844e1d2-b60a-4205-9b5e-e583a6a08bf7/four-falls-of-buffalo
  20. "Kelly Stays Retired; Ravens Get Harbaugh"
    https://buffalonews.com/news/kelly-stays-retired-ravens-get-harbaugh/article_0734f39d-6824-5c02-afd3-22a40903dbac.html
  21. Arizona 17 at Houston 16 Playoff https://www.usflsite.com/usflgame.php?game_id=300
    https://www.usflsite.com/usflgame.php?game_id=300
  22. Houston 20 at Birmingham 22 Playoff https://www.usflsite.com/usflgame.php?game_id=449
    https://www.usflsite.com/usflgame.php?game_id=449
  23. NFL.com
    http://www.nfl.com/player/jimkelly/2501579/profile
  24. profootballhof.com
    http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=112&tab=Stats
  25. Fox Sports
    https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/buffalo-bills-bruce-smith-retire-number-78-hall-of-fame-all-time-sack-leader-jim-kelly-051116
  26. Pro Football Hall of Fame
    http://www.profootballhof.com/news/2002-hall-of-fame-enshrinement-celebration-coverage/
  27. www.cbssports.com
    https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/49ers-brock-purdy-has-to-buck-this-brutal-30-year-super-bowl-qb-trend-if-he-wants-to-get-back-to-big-game/
  28. WHYY
    https://whyy.org/articles/eagles-chiefs-super-bowl-jalen-hurts-winner/#:~:text=Only%20Burrow%20has%20been%20to,the%20Bills%20from%201990-93.
  29. "Former Bills QB Kelly battling cancer of the jaw"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130608011424/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/former-bills-qb-kelly-battling-130430796--nfl.html
  30. Chattanooga Times Free Press
    https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/sep/05/nkemdiche-hsurprise-td-76-3-wno-17-ole-miss/
  31. CBS Sports
    http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/watch-ole-miss-chad-kelly-storms-the-field-during-brawl-at-high-school-game/
  32. The Buffalo News
    https://buffalonews.com/2016/09/02/led-by-another-kelly-st-joes-triumphs/
  33. The Buffalo News
    https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/03/like-brother-chad-casey-kelly-headed-for-ole-miss/
  34. 247Sports
    https://247sports.com/college/east-carolina/article/casey-kelly-ecu-football-oregon-ole-miss-transfer-commits-225352572/
  35. Instagram
    https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BYFJs85gpPS
  36. Buffalo News
    https://buffalonews.com/news/kelly-controls-network-sports-bar/article_66091501-5dcc-56f1-9185-0d44154c34f1.html
  37. Buffalo News
    https://buffalonews.com/news/kellys-network-closes-despite-city-efforts/article_ccde01b5-45e6-5618-98fe-1a34deb24b62.html
  38. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9417376/jim-kelly-no-cancer-2-weeks-surgery
  39. cbc.ca
    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/hall-of-fame-qb-jim-kelly-s-cancer-returns-1.2573581
  40. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2014/08/20/doctor-no-evidence-of-cancer-for-jim-kelly/14353565/
  41. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/11/01/jim-kelly-mrsa-buffalo-bills-miami-hurricanes/18340275/
  42. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22614594/former-buffalo-bills-qb-jim-kelly-undergo-treatment-oral-cancer-returns
  43. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23695970/jim-kelly-get-jimmy-v-award-cancer-fight
  44. Sporting News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190121233111/http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-news-jim-kelly-is-cancer-free-once-again-bills/rn51s9tlw75b14mrp7plr9k3c
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