The Buffalo Bills have had great offenses over the years. They’ve been blessed with great quarterback play, a slew of tremendous running backs, and more than a few players who have been inducted into the hallowed halls of Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As the Bills eye to elevate their passing attack in 2026, the offensive line will again be a key to their success. Throughout the years, the Bills have had very good offensive lines, with a handful of names playing pivotal roles while not necessarily getting the flowers they deserve.
Howard Ballard (1988-1993)
At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Ballard was very appropriately nicknamed “The House.” The 11th round draft choice out of Alabama A&M quickly asserted himself as one of the most important pieces on Buffalo’s excellent offensive line in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The right tackle started all 16 games for five straight seasons, helping the Bills to the Super Bowl in his last four seasons in upstate New York. Ballard made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1992 and 1993 before ultimately departing as a free agent. His massive presence on the offensive line was a calming reassurance for quarterback Jim Kelly and the rest of the dynamic offense.
Reggie McKenzie (1972-1982)
During the early years of Buffalo’s NFL tenure, running back O.J. Simpson was one of the premier players in the game. A major part of his success came thanks to the blocking of the vaunted Electric Company, of which guard Reggie McKenzie was a key part of.
Taken in the second round of the 1972 Draft by the Bills, McKenzie became an immediate starter, never missing a game over the first nine seasons of his career. McKenzie was a three-time All-Pro selection, one of the most integral parts of an offensive line that led the way for Simpson and the fearsome Bills rushing attack.
Despite his accolades, McKenzie is more a victim of recency bias than anything else. There are few who have suited up for the Bills that can match his play on the interior, setting the standard for the position for the last 40 years.
Will Wolford (1986-1992)
Wolford came with a pedigree, a first-round selection in the 1986 NFL Draft (20th overall). Wolford was as quiet and dependable as they come, often playing left tackle but showing the ability to play guard as well. He would earn two of his three Pro Bowl nods while playing in Buffalo.
Wolford, Ballard, and center Kent Hull formed one of the most dominant offensive lines of the early 1990s, a major driving factor behind the Bills’ historic Super Bowl run. When Wolford – identified easily thanks to his large, padded neck roll – got his hands on a defender, that defender didn’t get away.
More Names Ready to Join the All-Time Ranks?
Dion Dawkins continues to be one of the premier left tackles in the game, an essential component of what makes quarterback Josh Allen so good. On the opposite side, Spencer Brown remains in the fold as one of the very best right tackles in football.
Buffalo has become known for its offensive line play throughout the years, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. With each ascending name, those on this list will be pushed further down but their contributions should not be forgotten.
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