Buffalo Bills History: Who Wore It – Number 21

Dec 22, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) takes to the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

He have past the halfway point and Gerald Bess is the next on our list.  Bess played for the Bills during the 1987 players strike season.

Wayne Davis is the next and also is the longest tenured player to this point in history to wear the number 21, 3 years, 1987-1989.  Davis played in 73 games and had 14 starts with 5 interceptions.  The Bills were 1 of 3 teams Davis played for in his career.

Brian Taylor, DB, is the next player on our list to show up in the red, white, and blue during the 1991 season.

Running Back Nate Turner took the reigns in 1993-1994 wearing the number 21.  He also played for the Carolina Panthers in 1995 finishing off his career.

DB Manny Martin is next playing fort he Bills from 1996-1999.  Martin suffered torn ligaments in his knee in 1999 ending his career.  He played a total of 54 games and had 5 interceptions.  One of these was a 96 yard return for a TD in a preseason game against the Seahawks.

Chris Watson s the next Bill to wear the number 21 being a part of the Bills from 2000-2002. He started with the Broncos in 1999 and finished with the Detroit Lions in 2003.  He had 69 tackles and 2 interceptions in his career.

Running Back Willis McGahee is probably the most controversial player to wear the number 21 for the Bills.  McGahee ended his time in Buffalo in 2006 after making comments that the team should move to Toronto, and shouldn’t be in Buffalo.  McGahee go his start when Travis Henry got injured and took over the starting job with Henry requesting a trade when he became the backup to McGahee.  McGahee has bounced around since leaving Buffalo, having stints  in Baltimore and Denver before landing in Cleveland to fill a vacancy after Trent Richardson was traded to the Colts.  In 2013 McGahee had a 2.7 yard average per carry and 2 TDs for Cleveland in 12 games, a career low for him.

Jason Webster has a 1 year stint with Buffalo in 2007 while wearing the number 21 for the Bills.

We are skipping ahead 2 years to 2009 where Drayton Florence is seen in the number 21. He switched to the umber 29 and stayed there for the rest of his time in Buffalo until May of 2012.  Drayton Florence lead the Bills defensively in takeaway in 2009 when he joined the Bills and was placed into the starting rotation.  He is currently a free agent.

Leodis McKelvin came to the Bills via first round draft pick at number 11.  He was the first DB taken in the 2008 draft.  Until 2011 McKelvin wore the number 28.  McKelvin is still with the Bills being their longest tenured player in the defensive backfield.  In 2010, C.J. Spiller was drafted at the 9th overall position and wore the number 21.  In 2011, Spiller approached McKelvin and asked to switch as Spiller wore 28 in the Clemson Orange.  They agreed and at the unveiling in June of 2011, Spiller was in his old college number of 28 and McKelvin had taken over the duties of 21. McKelvin is still wearing the number 21 for the Bills.