Buffalo Bills All-Time Positional Rankings: The Top Five Quarterbacks

Let's face it: right now, we are in perhaps the most boring period of the year as far as the NFL goes.

But that doesn't mean we can't amuse ourselves by looking at more exciting times in the past.

That is why I will be writing a new series of articles, breaking down the top five players in Buffalo Bills history at each position.

The pool for this series includes every Bill in the team's rich history, dating back to the AFL days.

And so, let's start with the position that gets the most attention: the quarterback. And for those of you wondering, no, Rob Johnson (pictured in this slide) will not be on this list. A shocker, I know.

5. Drew Bledsoe (2002-04)

Near the end of his Buffalo tenure, Drew Bledsoe was far from beloved by Bills fans.

But consider this:

Do you know who holds the Buffalo Bills franchise records for single-season passing yards, attempts, and completions?

That's right, Bledsoe.

Bledsoe was also the last Bills quarterback to make the Pro Bowl, doing so in the same season when he set those records, 2002.

He also posted records of .500 or better in two of his three seasons. So before you go bashing Bledsoe as a Bill, just remember, he was actually pretty damn good in Buffalo.

4. Doug Flutie (1998-2000)

Doug Flutie was a flat-out winner during his time in Buffalo.

He played for an organization that treated him unfairly, but he did so with a tremendous amount of success.

Flutie's 1998 season with the Bills was one where he earned multiple honors. His nine-year gap between NFL starts was the longest in league history to that point, and was only broken in 2007.

Flutie earned the Comeback Player of the Year award and Pro Bowl honors after taking over for an injured Rob Johnson—whom he would have a constant battles against—five games into the year, and posting an 8-3 record as a starter.

The next year, Flutie's record as a starter was 10-5, and he led the Bills to their last postseason berth in the past 10 years. But Flutie was benched in playoff game in favor of Johnson. Buffalo would go on to lose the game, which would later go down in history as "The Music City Miracle."

In 2000, Flutie again posted a phenomenal record as a starter, going 4-1 compared to Johnson's 4-7. However, Buffalo's front office decided not to keep Flutie any longer than that season, and so the veteran was cut loose after that year.

Flutie posted a 22-9 record as a starter for the Bills, and finds his way to No. 4 on the all-time Buffalo Bills quarterback list.

3. Jack Kemp (1962-69)

Jack Kemp ranks third in just about every career passing statistic in Bills history: completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns.

He also led Buffalo to back-to-back AFL titles in 1964 and 1965.

Kemp was named an AFL All-Star in six of his eight season for the Bills, as well as being named to the All-AFL team three times.

2. Joe Ferguson (1973-84)

Joe Ferguson was the first of two outstanding Bills quarterbacks to wear the No. 12 on their jersey.

During his Buffalo career, Ferguson compiled 163 starts over his 12 seasons. He had six winning seasons, and a career record of 77-86 when he left the Bills.

Ferguson ranks second all-time in Bills history in pass completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns. He ranks first all-time in games played by a quarterback for Buffalo.

1. Jim Kelly (1986-96)

This one should come as a surprise to no one.

Jim Kelly was the best quarterback to ever don a Buffalo Bills uniform. Ironically enough, it was also after he refused to don that uniform by originally playing for the USFL's Houston Gamblers for two seasons in order to avoid playing for the Bills.

Kelly eventually wound up playing for Buffalo, and the results were spectacular.

Kelly holds the Buffalo Bills record for every major career passing statistic, and was named a Pro Bowler four times, being name an All-Pro three times. He finished with a career record of 101-59.

Kelly also quarterbacked the Bills team that went to four straight Super Bowls in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Buffalo has retired Kelly's No. 12 jersey, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, 2002.