Buffalo Bills: 30 greatest players in franchise history

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Phil Hansen, Buffalo Bills
6 Sep 1998: Defensive end Phil Hansen #90 of the Buffalo Bills looks on during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Bills 16-14.

Realistically, Phil Hansen wasn’t anything special at defensive end. Sure, he was a productive piece of the Buffalo defense during an era of dominance for the team. In the grand scheme of things though, Hansen wasn’t as talented as some of the other defensive ends to wear a Bills jersey.

And yet, he did finish his career with 61.5 sacks. That’s good for third on the Bills’ all-time sack list. Some of that can be attributed to that Hansen spent all 11 of his seasons in Buffalo. However, there’s no denying he played a big part in the club’s run of trips to the Super Bowl during the early 1990s.

On top of being a playmaker on the field, Hansen was a fan favorite who always got the crowd roaring with his big sacks. The 1991 second-round pick may never have made the Pro Bowl, but he certainly won over the Bills Mafia with his pass rushing and personality.

There have been plenty of outstanding defensive ends to play for the Bills over the years. While Hansen may not have been the most talented, his productivity and the part he played in three Super Bowl appearances earned him a spot on this list.

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