Without a Word_ How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything - Jill Kelly [99]
I entered the USFL’s Houston Gamblers as a quarterback and left as a passer. Head Coach Jack Pardee gave us direction and Mouse Davis taught me the art of the passing game. It may have lasted only a brief time, but the run-and-shoot was around long enough to make an impact in my professional career. Throwin’ was never as much fun.
And then I made the greatest decision of my life—I became a Buffalo Bill.
I can’t think of a better owner to play for than Ralph Wilson, and his place in this Hall is waiting. He guaranteed me that he would provide the weapons for the Bills to be a Super Bowl team, and boy, did he ever.
Future Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas, I don’t know where I would have been without number 34… Bruce Smith, thank God Bruce was on my team… Andre Reed, 12+83=???… James Lofton, the best deep threat in the game… and the greatest special teams player ever, Steve Tasker… not to mention Darryl Talley… Jim Richter… Will Wolford… Pete Metzelaars… Don Beebe, another great deep threat… my personal coach in a jersey, Frank Reich… and the real reason the no-huddle offense thrived the way it did, MY center, MY friend, and a great leader, Kent Hull.
Man, talk about egos… We went through some growing pains early on, didn’t we, Thurm? But we always knew that to succeed, we had to do it together. Four consecutive Super Bowls… I think we can safely say that we did it together.
As Chris Berman always tells us, “NO ONE… circles the wagons… like the Buffalo Bills.” Our Bills family was as close as could be. Bill Polian put us together… John Butler kept us together… and Marv Levy saw to it that we played together. Marv, never have so many eloquent words been wasted on a bunch of guys who always chose SportsCenter over your History Channel. How about that, Marv? I used “eloquent” in a sentence! Bruce, did you get that?
The phrase “no-huddle” became a household name in Western New York but would never have been possible without offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda, who trusted his quarterback to call all of his own plays. Thanks, Ted. In addition to Ted were Tom Bresnahan, Jim Shofner, the late, great Elijah Pitts, and many others. Job well done, men.
There are so many others in the Bills family that I represent today, but a special thanks to Scott Berchtold, Rusty Jones, Ed Abramoski, Bud Carpenter, Woody, and Hojo. I could write a complete speech on these six men. But they know where their place is in my heart.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, especially Larry Felser and Vic Carucci. And there are others who have touched my life… like Tommy Good, my daughter’s godfather and the seventh Kelly brother. The parties at my house after the game would not have been the same without you, buddy.
Finally, I want to thank my immediate family—my three amazing children, Erin, Hunter, and Camryn; and my wife, Jill. Jill is the backbone and spiritual rock of the Kelly household. Her faith and her unselfishness make her the kind of mother every father wants for their children. She is Mother of the Year every day of her life.
When I announced my retirement on January 31, 1997, we were already blessed with a beautiful daughter named Erin, the next Olympic swimmer. Two weeks later, on Valentine’s Day, our son was born… on Daddy’s birthday. I dreamt what every father dreams about… playing catch in the backyard, going fishing, camping, and all the great things that fathers and sons do. But within four months my son was diagnosed with a fatal disease—Krabbe Leukodystrophy. Now we’re all fighting for his life.
It has been written throughout my career that toughness is my trademark. But the toughest person I’ve ever met is my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter. I love you, buddy.
Thank you, Canton, and God bless you.
Notes
Chapter 11: Hunter at Seven
1. Webster’s New World Dictionary,