Three Bills named Hall of Fame finalists

By Shawn Krest

Three former Buffalo Bills standouts were among the fifteen finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2003 class. Owner Ralph Wilson, offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure, and receiver James Lofton were in the running for the NFL’s highest honor. The class will be announced Super Bowl weekend. If Wilson, Lofton, or DeLamielleure make the cut, it will mark the third straight year that a Bill has been elected into the Hall—Coach Marv Levy was a member of the Class of 2001, and quarterback Jim Kelly was inducted last year.

Wilson is the only owner in team history and one of the founding fathers of the AFL. He also played a key role in the AFL/NFL merger. Under his watch, the Bills have been one of the premiere franchises in pro football, winning consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965 and becoming the only team to reach four consecutive Super Bowls 1991-1994.

DeLamielleure was a guard on the Bills’ "Electric Company" offensive line that cleared paths for Hall of Famer OJ Simpson. DeLamielleure was named to five Pro Bowls as a Bill, and another after being dealt to the Browns. He earned a spot on the Hall of Fame’s all decade team for the 1970s. The Bills named him to their Wall of Fame in 1997.

Lofton played only four years with the Bills, spending nine years with the Packers and parts of three seasons with the Raiders, Eagles and Rams. He made the Pro Bowl once as a Bill, and became, at the time, the oldest player to gain 1000 yards receiving in a season. For his career, he earned eight Pro Bowl selections and topped 1000 yards six times. When he retired, Lofton was the career leader in receiving yards, though Tim Brown and Jerry Rice have since passed him on the all-time list. Lofton made the list of finalists last year as well.

Former Bills coach Chuck Knox and special teams standout Steve Tasker were among the 70 players, coaches and administrators on the initial list of Hall nominees but were not chosen as finalists. Of the fifteen finalists, the selection committee will choose at least four, but no more than seven for induction into the Hall of Fame. Others on the list of finalists include Raiders and Chiefs running back Marcus Allen, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, and Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg, who narrowly missed being elected last year.

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