Being a Buffalo Bills fan is basically a test of emotional endurance. If you've lived through the "drought," you know exactly what I mean. Looking back at the list of bills quarterbacks, it's easy to focus on the bookends: the legendary Jim Kelly and the current era of Josh Allen. But honestly, the space in between is a wild, often painful, and occasionally hilarious ride through NFL history.
For years, Buffalo felt like a graveyard for signal-callers. You had the high-profile veterans looking for a second act, the "franchise" draft picks that never panned out, and the random backups who became cult heroes for about three weeks. It’s a strange tapestry. Let’s actually look at who has taken the snaps in Western New York, because the names tell the story of a team that spent decades trying to find its soul.
The Foundation: Jack Kemp and the AFL Glory
Most people think Bills history starts with the Super Bowl runs of the 90s. Wrong. Before the merger, the Bills were a powerhouse, and Jack Kemp was the man. He wasn't just a quarterback; he was a politician in cleats, literally. Kemp was claimed off waivers from the San Diego Chargers for $100 in 1962. One hundred bucks. That might be the best ROI in the history of professional sports.
Kemp led the Bills to back-to-back AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965. He was the 1965 AFL MVP. He threw for over 15,000 yards in Buffalo, which, back then, was like throwing for 50,000 today. The 1960s also saw guys like Johnny Green and Daryle Lamonica (the "Mad Bomber") take snaps, but Kemp was the undisputed king. He eventually traded his helmet for a seat in Congress and a VP run, which is sort of the most "Buffalo" career path imaginable.
The Long Road to Jim Kelly
After Kemp retired, things got kinda messy. We saw the Dennis Shaw era (1970–1972) and then the incredibly durable Joe Ferguson. Ferguson is the unsung hero of this list. He started 163 games for Buffalo from 1973 to 1984. Think about that longevity. He played through the OJ Simpson era and some truly mediocre teams, but he was tough as nails. He’s still second in almost every major passing category for the franchise.
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Then, the 1983 draft happened. The Bills took Jim Kelly, but Kelly said, "No thanks," and went to the USFL instead. For two years, Bills fans had to watch Joe Dufek, Vince Ferragamo, and Bruce Mathison struggle while Kelly was lighting it up for the Houston Gamblers. Honestly, it's a miracle the fanbase stayed intact during the mid-80s.
The K-Gun Era (1986–1996)
When Kelly finally showed up in 1986, everything changed. You’ve heard the stats. Four straight Super Bowls. 35,467 passing yards. 237 touchdowns. He was the heart of the K-Gun no-huddle offense. But it wasn't just Kelly. We have to talk about Frank Reich. Every Bills fan knows the 1993 Wild Card game against the Oilers. Reich leading a 32-point comeback is the stuff of legend. He proved that even on the bench, Buffalo had something special.
The Drought: A Carousel of Hope and Heartbreak
When Kelly retired in 1996, the lights seemingly went out for seventeen years. This part of the list of bills quarterbacks is where it gets chaotic.
- The Flutie vs. Johnson War: This was a civil war in Buffalo. On one side, you had Doug Flutie, the 5'10" miracle worker who won games with pure "Flutie Magic." On the other, Rob Johnson, the "Robo-sack" who had a cannon for an arm but couldn't stay healthy. The decision to start Johnson over Flutie in the "Music City Miracle" game is still debated in Buffalo bars today.
- The Drew Bledsoe Experiment: In 2002, the Bills traded for Bledsoe. He had a monstrous first season, throwing for 4,359 yards—a record that stood until Josh Allen broke it. But then the line crumbled, and Drew started seeing ghosts.
- The Draft Whiffs: J.P. Losman (2004) and EJ Manuel (2013). Both were first-round picks. Both had moments of brilliance followed by long stretches of "What was that?" Losman had the deep ball, but not the touch. Manuel was a great human being, but the game just moved too fast for him.
The Rise of Fitzmagic
Somewhere in the middle of the mess, we got Ryan Fitzpatrick. He wasn't the best quarterback on this list, but he was probably the most fun. The beard, the Harvard education, the 98-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens in 2009—Fitzpatrick gave Buffalo fans a reason to watch during some very dark years. He finished his Bills career with 80 touchdowns and a permanent spot in the city's heart.
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Modern Times: Tyrod and the Turning Point
In 2015, Rex Ryan brought in Tyrod Taylor. People underappreciate Tyrod. He wasn't Jim Kelly, but he was efficient. He didn't turn the ball over. Most importantly, he was the quarterback when the Bills finally broke the 17-year playoff drought in 2017 (with a little help from Andy Dalton).
Even then, the team felt he wasn't "the guy." They actually benched him for Nathan Peterman in 2017, a game where Peterman threw five interceptions in one half. It was arguably the lowest point in franchise history. But that disaster paved the way for the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Josh Allen Era: Rewriting the Books
When the Bills traded up to #7 to take Josh Allen, the national media hated it. "He's inaccurate," they said. "He can't play in the NFL."
Fast forward to 2026. Allen has basically broken every record Kelly and Ferguson set.
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- Dual Threat: He’s the only player in NFL history with multiple seasons of 25+ passing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs.
- Postseason Prowess: Despite the heartbreaks against the Chiefs, Allen's playoff stats are astronomical. In the 2021 divisional game against KC, he played a "perfect" game that the Bills somehow still lost.
- The New Standard: He is the first Bills QB to lead the team to five consecutive AFC East titles (2020–2024).
The list of bills quarterbacks is no longer a punchline. With Allen, Buffalo has a guy who can go toe-to-toe with anyone. The gap between Kelly and Allen was long and filled with names like Trent Edwards, Kyle Orton, and Thad Lewis, but the struggle makes the current success taste a lot sweeter.
What This Means for Your Buffalo Bills Knowledge
Understanding the history of this position in Buffalo isn't just about memorizing names; it's about seeing the evolution of the game. We went from the pocket passing of Kemp and Ferguson to the no-huddle speed of Kelly, then suffered through the stationary years of Bledsoe before finally landing on the "create something out of nothing" style of Allen.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into Bills lore, here’s how to use this info:
- Compare the Eras: Look at Joe Ferguson’s 1983 season (26 TDs) versus Josh Allen’s 2020 season (37 TDs). The game has changed, but the pressure of playing in Orchard Park remains the same.
- Watch the "Music City Miracle": If you want to understand the Doug Flutie/Rob Johnson trauma, go watch the highlights of that 1999 Wild Card game. It explains why fans are so protective of their starters now.
- Track the Records: Keep an eye on the career passing yards. Jim Kelly’s 35,467 is the mountain Josh Allen is currently climbing. At his current pace, Allen will likely own every single record by the end of the 2020s.
The history of Buffalo quarterbacks is a lot of things—frustrating, weird, and legendary. But mostly, it’s a reminder that in Buffalo, you never count the underdog out.