While no player circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills, there have been a few players in franchise history who have circled the wagons better than others.
The Bills never reached the top in the NFL era, but they did win several AFL titles in their early seasons as a franchise in the 1960s. Since then, they’ve had some ups and downs, and after appearing in four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, they became the first team to miss the playoffs in 17 consecutive seasons.
These days, Buffalo has consistently been one of the best teams in the league. The 2024 season marked their sixth straight playoff appearance and fifth consecutive AFC East title.
As the Bills chase that elusive Super Bowl title, here are the 10 best players in franchise history.
10. Jack Kemp (1962-1969)
Kemp may be one of the few NFL stars better known for his career off the field. Before becoming a politician and vice presidential candidate, Kemp emerged as one of the first great players in Bills history. He also arrived in Buffalo in an unusual way. Coming off an AFL All-Star season, Kemp was placed on waivers by the Chargers early in the 1962 season after suffering a broken finger as his former team attempted to shadow him. The Bills found out that Kemp gave up and demanded a $100 fee from the quarterback. He missed most of the 1962 season but was again named an AFL All-Star. He was also named an All-Star in each of the next four seasons, helping Buffalo reach the AFL playoffs for four consecutive years. He also led the Bills to AFL titles in the 1964 and 1965 seasons.
9. Billy Shaw (1961-1969)
Shaw was part of the offensive line that helped Kemp become one of the AFL’s best quarterbacks and helped the Bills become a playoff mainstay in the 1960s. He was an eight-time All-Star and was named to the AFL’s All-Time Team in 1970. He actually wanted to play defense when he was drafted, having starred as a two-way lineman in college. Instead, he was so good as a guard that he became the only player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after never playing in the NFL.
8. Steve Tasker (1986-1997)
It’s difficult for a special teams player to stand out in the NFL, but Tasker did just that during the Bills’ Super Bowl appearances throughout the early 1990s and beyond. He was selected All-Pro five times and Pro Bowler seven times in 12 seasons with the Bills, winning Pro Bowl Game MVP in 1993. But his excellence on the offensive line (204 tackles) and on the punt block team (seven career punt blocks) helped the Bills advance to the Super Bowl for the fourth straight year. Some consider Tasker the best non-kicker special teams player of all time, calling for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame despite playing an overlooked position.
7. Joe Dramielle (1973-1979, 1985)
For OJ Simpson to emerge as one of the most productive running backs of all time, he needed help from the offensive line. DeLamielleure was one of the key blockers at the heart of the “Electric Company” offensive line. The guard was a six-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro (three times on the first team) during his Bills career and paved the way for the Bills to become one of the least sacked teams in the mid-1970s.
6. Andre Reed (1985-1999)
Not many wide receivers have produced at the level that Reed produced in the 1980s and 1990s. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he ranks in the top 10 in receptions five times and receiving touchdowns four times, but is best known for his playoff heroics. He scored at least two touchdowns in the postseason in each of the Bills’ first three Super Bowl trips. His most memorable performance was a 32-point comeback win in which he scored three touchdowns as part of a victory over the Houston Oilers in 1992. When he retired, Reed ranked second all-time in receptions (951). He also ranked in the top three in Super Bowl receptions and yards at the time of his retirement.
5. OJ Simpson (1969-1977)
Simpson had one of the most dominant runs for a running back in the 1970s, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods. He also finished in the top four in MVP voting four times during that span, winning the award in 1973 when he had the best season ever for a running back. Simpson rushed for 2,003 yards that year, the most ever by a running back. 14 game era. His 11,236 career rushing yards were the second most in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
Allen might end up being the best player in Bills history when his career is all over. But through his first seven seasons, he’s already made a strong enough case to be considered a top five Bills all-time player. Allen led the Bills to success they hadn’t had since the early 1990s, leading them to five consecutive AFC East titles. He also became one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history during that span, rushing for at least 400 yards and six touchdowns in each of the first seven seasons of his career. His 65 career rushing touchdowns are the second-most ever by a quarterback as of the end of the 2024 regular season.
Of course, Allen has also shown prowess as a passer. He ranked in the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns for five years of his career and earned three Pro Bowl selections. He could also win his first MVP award for his play in the 2024 season.
3. Thurman Thomas (1988-1999)
Thomas was one of the first great dual-threat running backs in NFL history. Thomas, who caught passes from Jim Kelly, led the NFL in total scrimmage yards in four of his first five seasons. This helped him earn five Pro Bowl nods during his career. He also won MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1991, rushing for 1,407 yards and seven touchdowns that season, along with 631 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. That year was also one of four seasons in which the Bills advanced to the Super Bowl. The previous season, he totaled 190 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in a loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. He also held postseason records for most touchdowns (21) and most consecutive games with a touchdown (nine) at the time of his retirement.
2. Jim Kelly (1986-1996)
It’s impossible to leave out the man who steered the ship for the great Bills teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Initially not wanting to be a part of the Bills, Kelly eventually joined the team in 1986 after the USFL folded. He quickly became one of the best passers in league history, ranking in the top 10 in passing touchdowns for nine seasons and in the top 10 in passing yards for six seasons.
Kelly was also a five-time Pro Bowler during his career and led the Bills to four straight AFC titles from 1990-93. Buffalo also advanced to the postseason eight times during Kelly’s 11 years as quarterback, making him a deserved Hall of Famer.
1. Bruce Smith (1985-1999)
Smith spent 15 of his dominant 19 seasons in Buffalo, becoming arguably the greatest pass rusher of all time as he played a huge role in helping the Bills advance to four straight Super Bowls. He had 12 double-digit sack seasons in 13 years from 1986 to 1998, and played in only five games during the one year he fell short of that mark due to injuries. Smith has twice won the NFL’s top defensive honors while being a Pro Bowl and All-Pro mainstay for most of his career (winning both 11 times). He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 with 19 sacks, and added another sack as a safety in Super Bowl XXV. He won his second Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1996 when he recorded a league-high five forced fumbles.
When Smith retired from Washington after the 2003 season, he had 200 career sacks, the most in NFL history. He had 171 with the Bills. So it’s no surprise that he was named the best Bills player after being named the best pass rusher by FOX Sports.
Honorable Mentions:
- Darryl Tarly
- Kyle Williams
- Kent Hull
- Cookie Gilchrist
- Cornelius Bennett
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