Legendary Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly has revealed he was hospitalized this spring after suffering a stroke.
The 66-year-old, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, opened up on his health scare while speaking to reporters in Orchard Park, New York, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium on Tuesday.
‘I had a little setback about a month and a half ago,’ he said. ‘But right now, I feel good. Eyesight’s not great. My hearing still sucks, but that’s part of life.’
Kelly said recent tests were clean. ‘Everything’s good. All good,’ he added.
The five-time Pro Bowler has had a number of health issues over the years and been diagnosed with cancer four times, undergoing a combination of surgeries and chemotherapy in 2013, 2014 and 2018 because of various forms of the disease.
He expressed excitement about attending the Bills’ first game in their new stadium when the Detroit Lions visit on September 17.
Bills legend Jim Kelly has revealed he was hospitalized this spring after suffering a stroke
Kelly, Buffalo’s franchise QB from 1986-96, has had several health problems over the years
‘It’s going to be special, not only for the players, but imagine the fans in there, how crazy and wild and loud they’re going to get,’ Kelly said.
‘And that’s what I’m looking forward to. I want to see how loud this stadium can get. And from what I´ve been told, it’s going to be unbelievable, but I don’t expect anything less.’
Kelly was Buffalo’s franchise quarterback from 1986-96, appearing in four consecutive Super Bowls during that time – but infamously losing in all four of them.
He still lives in the Western New York area almost 30 years after playing his final game for the Bills and retiring from the NFL.
The Bills icon made 160 regular-season appearances for the team, while racking up 35,467 passing yards for 237 touchdowns.
He still sits second in the all-time NFL list for most yards gained per completion in a single game with 44, which he recorded during a 1995 game against the Carolina Panthers.
Kelly also featured in 17 playoff games for Buffalo, going 9-8 overall while completing 322 of his 545 passes for 3,863 yards and 21 touchdowns.
