In two seasons in Houston leading offensive coach Mouse Davis's run-and-shoot offense, Kelly threw for 9,842 yards and 83 touchdowns, completing 63% with an average of 8.53 yards per attempt with 45 interceptions. He signed with the Houston Gamblers, who played in the climate-controlled Houston Astrodome, and said, "Would you rather be in Houston or Buffalo?" Kelly later claimed that the USFL offered him his choice of teams because of the league's interest in signing quarterbacks. While meeting with the team to negotiate his contract, however, a Bills secretary mistakenly let Bruce Allen, general manager of the rival United States Football League's Chicago Blitz, reach Kelly on the telephone Allen persuaded Kelly to leave the meeting. I'm like, 'You got to be kidding me.'" Īlthough he believed that team owner Ralph Wilson would not bring in the right players to build a championship team, Kelly was resigned to playing for the Bills. Although Kelly at the time stated that he had expected the Bills to choose him, he later said, "You have to say those things. He was pleased to see while watching the 1983 draft on television that the Bills did not select him as the 12th pick in the first round, but learned from his agent that the team had another first-round pick the Bills chose Kelly as the 14th pick. Kelly, who disliked cold weather, listed the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills.
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Professional career Houston Gamblers īecause of fellow quarterback John Elway's well-publicized reluctance to play for the Baltimore Colts, which chose him in the 1983 NFL Draft, Kelly's agent asked whether there were any teams he would not play for. He was inducted into the university's hall of fame in 1992. Kelly finished his career at Miami with 376 completions in 676 attempts for 5,228 yards and 33 touchdowns. He went on to play for the University of Miami, where he played an important role in helping build the program into one of the nation's best. Kelly was offered a scholarship to play college football at Penn State University under coach Joe Paterno, but Paterno wanted Kelly at linebacker, not quarterback. As a senior, he led East Brady to the Pennsylvania Class 'A' basketball state quarterfinals, and averaged 23 points and 20 rebounds.
Kelly also played basketball in high school, scoring over 1,000 points with six 30-plus-point games.
After his senior year, Kelly played in the Big 33 Football Classic. He was a standout at East Brady High School and won all-state honors after passing for 3,915 yards, 44 touchdowns, and 1 interception in his career. Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up about 60 miles to the northeast, in East Brady.
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He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Kelly was also named to five Pro Bowls and received first-team All-Pro honors in 1991.Īlong with teammates Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, Kelly is one of only three players to have his number retired by the Bills. From the 1990 to the 1993 season, he helped guide the Bills to a record four consecutive Super Bowls, although the team lost each game. Employing the "K-Gun" offense, known for its no-huddle shotgun formations, Kelly led one of the greatest NFL scoring juggernauts.
He chose to sign with the Gamblers instead and did not play for the Bills until the USFL folded in 1986. One of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, Kelly was selected 14th overall by the Bills. He also played two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). James Edward Kelly (born February 14, 1960) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.NFL completion percentage leader (1990).
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