The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback Jim Kelly in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft. However, the Miami Hurricane star opted to sign with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League. Kelly, in two seasons with the Gamblers, threw for 9,842 yards and 83 touchdowns.
The USFL folded following the 1985 season, and Kelly, just prior to the start of the 1986 NFL season, signed with the Bills.
A strong-armed passer with a "linebacker's mentality," Kelly lived up to his advance billing, as he virtually rewrote the Bills' record book for quarterbacks. Only three players in NFL history had reached the 30,000-yard career passing mark faster. Eight times during his NFL career he passed for more than 3,000 yards in a season, and twenty-six times he passed for more than 300 yards in a game. On September 13, 1992, in a 34-31 shootout victory over the Steve Young-led San Francisco 49ers, Kelly passed for a career-high 403 yards.
The Bills, during the 1990s, with Kelly and teammates Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed, possessed a highly potent offense. Kelly's quick decisiveness and fast paced "no-huddle" offense terrorized opposing defenses. He led the NFL in passing in 1990 and the AFC again in 1991. With his 101.2 passer rating in 1990, he became only the fifth quarterback to maintain a rating over 100 since the system was introduced in 1973.
In 11 seasons in Buffalo, Kelly led the Bills to the playoffs eight times. In 17 playoff game appearances, including four consecutive Super Bowls, he passed for 3,863 yards and 21 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, his 84.4 passer rating ranked sixth all-time and was second when compared to Hall of Fame quarterbacks. His 35,467 career passing yards ranked tenth in NFL history; his 2,874 completions ranked eighth; and his 237 touchdowns ranked thirteenth.
At the time of Kelly's retirement, only Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, and Johnny Unitas among Hall of Fame quarterbacks had passed for more yardage, and only Tarkenton, and Fouts had completed more passes.
Championship Games
1988 AFC - Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He also rushed two times for 10 yards.
1990 AFC - Buffalo Bills 51, Los Angeles Raiders 3
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed two times for 12 yards.
1991 AFC - Buffalo Bills 10, Denver Broncos 7
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed two times for nine yards.
1992 AFC - Buffalo Bills 29, Miami Dolphins 10
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 177 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also rushed three times for four yards.
1993 AFC - Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 13
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 160 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also rushed two times for three yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXV - New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 212 yards. He also rushed six times for 23 yards.
Super Bowl XXVI - Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 28 of 58 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also rushed three times for 16 yards.
Super Bowl XXVII - Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 82 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. He was injured mid-way through the second quarter.
Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
Kelly started at quarterback. He completed 31 of 50 passes for 260 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed two times for 12 yards.
All-Pro: 1991 (AP, PFWA, SN, PW, NEA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1990 (NEA) " 1992 (AP)
All-AFC: 1991 (UPI, PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1990 (UPI)
(4) - 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993*
* Did not play
At time of his retirement following 1996 season
[Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons, 3,000 or More Yards Passing - 8
Super Bowl Records
[1st] Most Passes Attempted, Career - 145
[1st] Most Passes Attempted, Game - 58 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[1st] Most Passes Completed, Game - 31 (vs. Dallas, Super Bowl XXVIII)
[Tied for 1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 7
[Tied for 1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Game - 4 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[Tied for 1st] Most Fumbles, Game - 3 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[2nd] Most Passes Completed, Career - 81
[2nd] Most Fumbles, Career - 4
[Tied for 2nd] Most Passes Attempted, Game - 50 (vs. Dallas, Super Bowl XXVIII)
[3rd] Most Yards Gained, Career - 829
[Tied for 3rd] Most Passes Completed, Game - 28 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Completions, Game - 9 (vs. Dallas, Super Bowl XXVIII)
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 28
[2nd] Most Passes Attempted, Career - 545
[2nd] Most Passes Completed, Career - 322
[2nd] Most Yards Passing, Career - 3,863
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games, 300 or More Yards Passing - 3
[3rd] Most Passes Attempted, Game - 58 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 4 (vs. Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
Team Records
Bills' records held by Kelly at the time of his retirement following the 1996 season
[1st] Most Attempts, Career - 4,779
[1st] Most Completions, Career - 2,874
[1st] Most Completions, Season - 304 (1991)
[1st] Most Yards Passing, Career - 35,467
[1st] Most Yards Passing, Season - 3,844 (1991)
[1st] Most 300 Yards Games, Career - 26
[1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Career - 237
[1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Season - 33 (1991)
[1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 6 (vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 8, 1991)
[1st] Most Consecutive Games TD Pass Thrown - 18
[1st] Best Completion Percentage, Career - 60.14
[1st] Best Completion Percentage, Season - 64.14 (1991)
[2nd] Most Attempts, Game - 52 (at Oakland, Dec. 8, 1991)
[2nd] Most Completions, Season - 288 (1993)
[2nd] Most Completions, Game - 33 (at Oakland, Dec. 8, 1991)
[2nd] Most Yards Passing, Game - 403 (at San Francisco, Sept. 13, 1992)
[2nd] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 175
[2nd] Lowest Interception Percentage, Career - 3.66
[2nd] Lowest Interception Percentage, Season - 2.60 (1990)
[2nd] Best Completion Percentage, Season - 63.61 (1994)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 5 (vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 21, 1991; at Houston, Sept. 24, 1989)
[3rd] Most Completions, Season - 285 (1986, 1994)
[3rd] Most Completions, Game - 32 (vs. Green Bay, Nov. 20, 1994)
[3rd] Most Yards Passing, Season - 3,593 (1986)
[3rd] Most Yards Passing, Game - 392 (vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 21, 1991)
[3rd] Most Attempts, Season - 480 (1986)
[3rd] Lowest Interception Percentage, Season - 2.63 (1987)
[3rd] Best Completion Percentage, Season - 63.29 (1990)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Season - 25 (1989)
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Yards Passing, Career - 3,863
[1st] Most Yards Passing, Game - 405 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[1st] Most Pass Attempts, Game - 58 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[1st] Most Pass Completions, Game - 31 (vs. Dallas, Super Bowl XXVIII)
[Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Game - 4 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI)
[2nd] Most Yards Passing, Game - 339 (vs. Miami, Jan. 12, 1991)
[2nd] Most Pass Attempts, Game - 54 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[2nd] Most Pass Completions, Game - 28 (vs. Washington, Super Bowl XXVI; at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[2nd] Longest Pass - 72 yards (to Andre Reed, at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[3rd] Most Yards Passing, Game - 300 (vs. L.A. Raiders, Jan. 20, 1991)
[3rd] Most Pass Attempts, Game - 50 (vs. Dallas, Super Bowl XXVIII)
[3rd] Most Pass Completions, Game - 27 (vs. L.A. Raiders, Jan. 15, 1994)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Interceptions, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 5, 1995; at Cincinnati, Jan. 8, 1989; at Pittsburgh, Jan. 6, 1996)
League Statistical Championships
Passing Leader: 1990
Touchdown Passes: 1991
AFC Statistical Championships
Passing Leader: 1990, 1991
Touchdown Passes: 1991
Team Statistical Championships
Passing Leader: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996