by Jill Kelly
Kevin is without a doubt my biggest fan. After signing autographs for Kevin for years, I finally asked one day, “Who are these for, Kevin?” He smiled and said, “They’re for me, bro.”
I learned the importance of extended family as early as Midget football, where men like Art Delano, Gary Faust, Jim Martin, and Jimmy King were more than coaches. They gave me the guidance that went well beyond the football field. I will never forget Art Delano sitting with me in his personal sauna, his Volkswagen Beetle, with the windows rolled up on a hot summer day after we had just run alongside the railroad tracks and the Allegheny River in order for me to make playing weight. While my friends rode mini-bikes and went swimming, this is where I learned all about sacrifice.
When you grow up in the hotbed of high school football, you live the game as much as you play it. And believe me, the East Brady Bulldogs ate, slept, and drank football. Terry Henry, our coach, was a jack-of-all-trades. He was our trainer, equipment manager, teacher, counselor, and father all rolled into one for not only myself and my brothers, but teammates like Jimmy Hiles, Kevin Morrow, and Paul DeBacco. And, Terry, the fact that you remain close to our family to this day speaks volumes. You will always be a key ingredient to why I made it as far as I did.
Coach Howard Schnellenberger’s arrival to the University of Miami was a godsend for me. He was a drill sergeant, a hard-nosed coach—something that every cocky high school athlete needed. Especially me. And with him came Earl Morrall, who taught me how to read defenses.
After injuring my shoulder in my senior year, I was told that I would never play again. But our trainer, Mike O’Shea, and my best friend and college roommate, Mark Rush, had different thoughts. They worked me through countless hours of rehab to get me healthy enough to fulfill my dream of playing professional football. Thanks, guys, especially you, Roomie. To Art Kehoe, Don Bailey, Tony Fitzpatrick, and so many others, thanks for being much more than just Hurricane teammates.
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, 3rd College Ed. (New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1991).
Chapter 15: Unexpected Grace
1. Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2004), 55.
2. Ibid., 70.
3. Ibid., 73.
Chapter 17: Walking Through the Valley
1. Verses have been personalized by the author.
PRAYERS OF HOPE FOR THE BROKENHEARTED
Sometimes the deepest hurts are the most difficult to express. Times of grief and sorrow can also be times of great loneliness, when it seems we bear unbearable burdens by ourselves.
Jill Kelly’s infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. During the difficult months that followed, Jill often wrote prayers in her journals. She poured out her anguish, pain, and questions to the One who could comfort, heal, and mend her broken heart. It was through the grace of a compassionate God that Jill found lasting hope and peace.
Prayers of Hope for the Brokenhearted is a collection of simple prayers that offer solace to anyone who experiences heartache and sorrow.
ISBN 978-0-7369-2933-2
PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE
Jill Kelly knows the sorrow of loss. After burying her 8-year-old son, Hunter, she spent countless days and nights expressing her grief to God in her tear-stained journals and watching Him turn that grief into peace. In this gift book of comfort, Jill’s prayers for those who journey through grief are accompanied by inspiring photographs of nature by award-winning professional photographer Brody Wheeler.
With a heart of compassion and deep empathy, Jill shares a message of hope for those who weep, those struggling to find words for their emotions, and for all who carry burdens they long to bring to God.
ISBN 978-0-7369-2934-9
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
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