Buffalo Bills History: Who Wore It – Number 23

Nov 17, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills free safety Aaron Williams (23) before a game against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

With the longest stint to this date, the next Bills player to wear the number 23 was Kenneth Davis from 1989-1994.  Davis is remember best for his excellent backup play to Thurman Thomas.  Davis had his best season in 1992 racking up over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns during the season.  He also was an intricate part of the greatest comeback game in NFL history when Thomas was injured early in the game with a hip injury.  He finished with 68 yards on the ground, 25 yards receiving and the Bills first touchdown. He finished his career with the Bills in 1994.

Matt Stevens is the next and final one year stint player for the Bills to wear the number 23.  Stevens played for the Bills in 1996.

From 1997-2000 Buffalo has Antowain Smith wearing the number 23.  Smith was drafted by the Bills in 1997.  He had a great first season and then fell out of the Bills graces and had a mediocre remaining time in Buffalo.  He went on to play for the Patriots, Titans and Saints finishing his career in 2006 were he was part of the Texans off-season squad.

Pierson Prioleau is the next player seen wearing the number 23.  Prioleau played for the Bills from 2001-2004.  Prioleau had his first season where he started all 16 games in Buffalo during the 2002 season.  He finished with 86 tackles and ranked 5th for the season, his best season ever.  The remaining time in Buffalo he did play in all 32 games but only had 8 starts.  He moved on to play for the Redskins, Jaguars and Saints to finish his career in 2010.

In 2004-2006 we see another defensive back wearing the number 23.  Troy Vincent comes to Buffalo after payed 8 seasons in Philadelphia where he made a name for himself.  Vincent replaced Antoine Winfield at CB in 2004.  He later moved to FS and suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Terrance McGee.  He was placed on IR by the Bills in 2006 due to an hamstring injury and was released so seek other opportunities in the NFL.  He was picked up by the Redskins and finished his career in 2006 with them.

We next see the second to last player in Bills history to wear the number 23 come in the form of Beast Mode.  Marshawn Lynch played for the Bills during the 2007-2010 season.  He was draft by the Bills in 2007.  During his time in Buffalo, Lynch had ankle injuries, a shoulder injury and a misdemeanor plea on weapons charges during the 2009 season.  He was replaced by Fred Jackson in 2009, who had his first 1,000 yard season.  In 2010 after suffering his second ankle injury in their preseason opener, on October 5th, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a 4th round pick in 2011 and two conditional picks in 2012.

The current Buffalo Bills player to be wearing the number 23 is Aaron Williams.  Williams came to the Bills in 2011 as a 2nd round pick.  Williams was drafted by the Bills as a cornerback.  He payed cornerback for the Bills for his first two seasons.  In 2013 Williams moved to SS to join Jairus Byrd in the defensive backfield.  Williams is currently the starting SS for the Bills going into the 2014 season.