Billy Shaw, who was part of the Buffalo Bills’ American Football League championship teams in the mid-1960s, passed away on Friday at the age of 85. He is notable for being the only player enshrined in the Hall of Fame whose entire career was spent in the AFL.
Shaw helped the Bills secure back-to-back AFL titles in 1964 and 1965, serving as a starting guard throughout his nine-year tenure with the team. He earned first-team All-AFL honors for five consecutive seasons during a period when Buffalo was dominant in the league.
“Billy Shaw is the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to have played his entire career in the American Football League, and while that fact is significant, it doesn’t fully capture why he was elected as part of the Class of 1999,” said Hall President Jim Porter. “Billy’s exceptional athleticism added a new dimension to the guard position and helped make the 1960s Buffalo Bills a tough competitor with a powerful rushing attack.”
Shaw was a second-round draft pick for the Bills in 1961, selected ninth overall in an eight-team league. He was also drafted in the 14th round by the Cowboys during a time when both leagues had separate drafts. Joining the Bills for $11,000—along with a $5,000 signing bonus and a new car—Shaw quickly became a key player at left guard, protecting quarterback Jack Kemp and clearing paths for fullback Cookie Gilchrist during the team’s peak years.
While the Bills are often remembered for their four consecutive AFC championships and Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s, they also made a mark on the biggest stage much earlier. Under Kemp, Lou Saban’s team boasted a 22-5-1 record from 1964 to 1965, with Shaw being the only offensive player to earn first-team All-AFL honors in both seasons.
The Bills defeated the Chargers in the 1964 and 1965 championships, stopping a potential dynasty, but lost to the Chiefs in their bid to reach the first Super Bowl. Shaw continued to excel, earning first-team All-AFL honors in 1966 and second-team honors in 1968. Over his career, he started 116 games, not missing a game until his seventh season. By the end of the decade, Shaw was the only Bills offensive player named to the AFL’s All-Decade first team.
