Kelly’s induction marks the third time in four years that a Bill has entered the Hall. He follows three former Bills already enshrined, O.J. Simpson (1985), Billy Shaw (1999), and Marv Levy (2001).
BillsBeat - February 3, 2002
BillsBeat - February 2, 2002
Kelly, Stallworth Among 5 Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
‘"I didn’t look at this game as a business, I looked at it as fun," Kelly said. "I don’t think there’s anybody out there that enjoyed playing the quarterback position as much as I did."’
Jim Kelly Heads Hall of Fame Class of 2002
‘Kelly, whose team lost all four Super Bowls, was the only one elected in his first year of eligibility, the 51st player and eighth quarterback so honored at the first opportunity.’
Kelly, Stallworth, Hampton, Casper, Allen make Hall of Fame
‘"Wow!" said Kelly, the only one of the five in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. "I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous in my life."’
Kelly elected, Parcells snubbed again for Hall of Fame
‘A strong-armed passer with a linebacker’s mentality, Kelly rewrote most of the Bills’ passing records and led the team to the playoffs eight times in his 11 years with the team from 1986-96.’
Jim Kelly Biography
‘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.’
Jim Kelly, Class of 2002
‘Kelly’s induction marks the third time in four years that a Bill has entered the Hall. He follows three former Bills already enshrined, O.J. Simpson (1985), Billy Shaw (1999), and Marv Levy (2001).’
Hall of Fame Class of 2002
‘The 2002 Class of Enshrinees was announced from New Orleans just moments ago. The new class is George Allen, Dave Casper, Dan Hampton, Jim Kelly, and John Stallworth.’
Rams give more looks than '90 Bills
‘”To me the major difference between Buffalo and St. Louis would be that the ’90 Buffalo team was a team that ran usually only one formation, sometimes two. No huddle. Their pace was very quick. It was a tempo offense.”‘
Van Pelt's perseverance finally pays
‘"It’s set up that if I am the No. 1 quarterback the majority of the season or the whole season I’ll be paid as if I’m a low-end starting quarterback," said Van Pelt, who earned the veteran’s minimum of $477,000 last season. "If I don’t, I’ll make the minimum. It’s the best of both worlds for both people."’
Area Fans Cast Their Hall Of Fame Vote For Kelly
‘"He’s Buffalo’s most centralized sports figure. You can put him right up there with (Buffalo Sabre Hall of Famer) Gil Perreault. You think maybe the drawbacks of not winning one of those four Super Bowls might have something to do with it. But they won a lot of AFC Championships and they won a lot of games."’
Jim Kelly, dad could share joy
‘If the voters’ judgment hasn’t been impaired by too many Hurricanes on Bourbon Street, Kelly will be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And, if that happens, no one will be prouder than Papa Joe.’
Luck favors HOF hopefuls Kelly, Modell, Guy
‘The list of finalists for today’s Pro Football Hall of Fame selection is the weakest in many years and a minimum of four men must be chosen.’
Stallworth, Kelly favored to enter Hall
‘Levy noted one more thing about Kelly. “Tell me someone who called his own plays? All through our no-huddle days, he was our play-caller. He had to master a lot. If he gets in, I’ll be as excited as I was last year.”‘
Super failures should pass with Hall call
‘To pigeonhole Kelly for four bad games, no matter how large the spotlight, is short-sighted. Leading a team to four straight Super Bowls is a record that, in this era of parity, may never be equalled and should be the focus of any career retrospective.’