NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly announced Tuesday that he was hospitalized earlier this spring after suffering a stroke. The 66-year-old quarterback, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, shared the news during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium.
Kelly described the event as a "little setback," but stated that he is currently feeling well. He acknowledged that his eyesight is not ideal and his hearing is still impaired, describing these as "part of life." Recent medical tests have come back clean, he reported.
This is the latest in a series of significant health challenges for Kelly. The former Buffalo Bills star has battled cancer four times, undergoing multiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatments between 2013 and 2018 for various forms of the disease.
Kelly expressed his anticipation for the Buffalo Bills' first game in their new stadium on September 17, when the team hosts the Detroit Lions. "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."
During his tenure with the Bills from 1986 to 1996, Kelly led the team to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances, though they lost each championship game. He remains a prominent figure in Western New York, having played his final game nearly 30 years ago. Kelly made 160 regular-season appearances for the Bills, accumulating 35,467 passing yards and 237 touchdowns. He also holds a notable NFL record for most yards gained per completion in a single game with 44, achieved in 1995 against the Carolina Panthers. In the playoffs, Kelly appeared in 17 games, posting a 9-8 record with 3,863 passing yards and 21 touchdowns.