By Jack Stewart
While as a team the Buffalo Bills have had limited success, the Bills’ 60+ year history has provided fans with some of the greatest individual talents of all time. Here are the ten best players to ever play for the Buffalo Bills.
10. Steve Tasker – WR/ST (1986-1997)
While Steve Tasker was without a doubt an “unconventional” player, he found his perfect niche with the Bills and excelled. Tasker was exceptional on special teams, being named to five First Team All-Pros and seven Pro Bowls during his time with the Bills. He was an integral part of the 90s Bills teams and dominated an extremely underappreciated part of football.
9. Cornelius Bennett – OLB (1987-1995)
During the 90s, the Bills’ defense was one of the best in the entire league, and one of the most crucial pieces to that defense was Cornelius Bennett. Bennett was an intimidating outside linebacker whose explosive speed contributed to over 50 sacks during his time with the Bills. Additionally, he had 22 forced fumbles during his career in Buffalo, which helped contribute to his five Pro Bowl selections and a fourth-place ranking for Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. Bennett was incredible during his time with the Bills, and those 90s teams would not have been the powerhouses they were without him.
8. Joe DeLamielleure – OG (1973-1979)
Joe DeLamielleure anchored the Bills’ offensive line during the 1970s and was one of the biggest factors in their success throughout the decade. DeLamielleure was named to six Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pros due to his incredible blocking and leadership role as a Bill. His dominance during the 70s got him named to the All-Decade team, and he eventually secured his place as an all-timer by being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
7. Billy Shaw – OG (1961-1969)
Even though Billy Shaw played for the Bills over 60 years ago, his accomplishments and contributions to the franchise cannot be overstated. Shaw anchored the offensive line during the Bills’ two AFL championships, and he embodied consistency over the course of his career. He was named to eight straight Pro Bowls and five straight First Team All-Pros, which have both earned him his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Andre Reed – WR (1985 – 1999)
Far and away, Andre Reed is the best wide receiver the Buffalo Bills have ever seen. During his time in Buffalo, he epitomized consistency by being named to seven straight Pro Bowls and having multiple 1000-yard receiving seasons. He was the main receiving threat of the Bills offense during the 90s and comprised the “big four” of the decade. He was one of the most explosive offensive talents of the decade and easily one of the best players the Buffalo Bills have ever seen.
5. Jim Kelly – QB (1986 – 1996)
Although Jim Kelly’s reputation as a playoff choker precedes him, his performance during the regular season is undeniable. Kelly was consistently one of the best quarterbacks in the league for a decade and is without a doubt one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. Kelly ranks 5th overall in passing yards and 7th in passing touchdowns for the 90s, and his historic 1991 campaign has gone down as one of the best single seasons in Buffalo history. He was named a First Team All-Pro, led his team to the Super Bowl, and finished 2nd in MVP voting, only behind fellow Bills teammate Thurman Thomas. More than all of that, though, Kelly was the face of the franchise for a decade and brought the Bills back to glory during the 90s. Despite never winning it all, Kelly’s importance to the Bills and the city as a whole cannot be overstated, and he easily deserves his spot among the greatest of all time.
4. Josh Allen – QB (2018 – Present)
Josh Allen has single-handedly saved the current Buffalo Bills from the decades of mediocrity they endured during the 2000s and 2010s and has genuine potential to be the best Bill ever. As of now, his resume is incomplete, but what he’s accomplished in his seven years has elevated him to one of the Bills’ best. He’s had numerous 4000-yard seasons, has the most rushing touchdowns in Bills history, has thrown over 200 passing touchdowns, and won an MVP. The Bills were a bottom-feeder franchise in the NFL for over two decades, and through Allen alone, hope in the Bills has been revitalized. Allen is already one of the greatest Buffalo Bills and quarterbacks ever, and his ranking in both of those categories will only get higher.
3. Thurman Thomas – RB (1988 – 1999)
Although Jim Kelly was the “face” of the Bills during the 90s, Thurman Thomas was the main offensive threat throughout the decade. For Thomas, the accolades speak for themselves: five Pro Bowls, back-to-back 2000-yard seasons, an OPOY award, an All-Decade team, an MVP, and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He rushed for 1000 yards in eight straight seasons and was an early archetype for the receiving backs that have dominated the modern NFL. In terms of influence and performance, Thurman Thomas is without a doubt one of the best and most important players in the history of the sport.
2. O.J. Simpson – RB (1969 – 1977)
O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas are roughly interchangeable, but O.J.’s efficiency and sheer dominance give him the slight edge. His 1973 season is arguably the best running back season of all time, as it saw O.J. rush for 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 14 games. In terms of accolades, O.J. had it all, including an MVP, OPOY, numerous Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, and a spot in the Hall of Fame. He was simply the best running back of his era, and nobody else came close. He had a killer instinct, and it’s clear that no other running back or defender was on his level. The Bills have had a historic string of running backs throughout their history, but nobody did it quite like O.J. Simpson.
1. Bruce Smith – DE (1985-1999)
Even with the numerous historic greats to play for the Buffalo Bills, one player stands levels above all: Bruce Smith. He is arguably the best defensive player in the history of football, and there is not a single gap in his resume. He has the all-time NFL record for the most sacks at 200, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 8 All-Pros, and was named to the All-Decade Team for both the 80s and the 90s. He devoted almost his entire career to the Bills, playing in Buffalo for 15 seasons, and was always the best player on the field. His excellence is truly unparalleled, not only for Buffalo, but for football as a whole. While the rest of the ranking could be rearranged or altered, there is no debate here; Bruce Smith is far and away the greatest Buffalo Bill of all time.