When fans think of the Buffalo Bills, there’s been a lot more downs than ups in their overall history. Even with the current state of the team now with all of their success, it’s being overlooked by their playoff failures where they have yet to make a Super Bowl with Josh Allen.
Even though the Bills have had some very bad times, they have also had a lot of fun seasons where Bills fans got to see Buffalo dominate in the regular season and cruise through the playoffs…up until the Super Bowl. Back in the early 90s, the Bills were the best team in the NFL as they went to four consecutive Super Bowls with an offense that was led by Jim Kelly.
Even though Jim Kelly had a bit of a rough start with the Bills (where he didn’t play for them until 1986 despite being drafted by them in 1983), he became the best quarterback in Bills history…for now. In 11 seasons with the Bills, Kelly threw for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns. He played like how Josh Allen plays now in terms of how they throw the ball, which is why Allen was a perfect fit for when Buffalo drafted him back in 2018.
Bills' Jim Kelly gets recognition that he usually gets overlooked on
Bryan DeArdo from CBS Sports created a list of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time (with the main focus being on where Aaron Rodgers landed on the list). The list started from No. 30 and worked its way up to No. 1. Kelly was listed at No. 23 ahead of quarterbacks like Dan Fouts, Len Dawson, Philip Rivers, Warren Moon, and Joe Namath.
Here’s a bit on what DeArdo said about Kelly:
"Kelly led the Bills' appropriately-named "K-Gun" offense that appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls, an NFL record. One of 18 quarterbacks with 100 career wins, Kelly led the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating in 1990 and in touchdown passes in 1991. "Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports
The Bills had one of the most dangerous offenses in the league under Kelly where he had a star running back in Thurman Thomas and a go-to receiver in Andre Reed. Buffalo’s offense tired out defensive units and they won big in a lot of games. The only reason why Kelly is this low on DeArdo’s list is because he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring.