Billy Shaw
No. 66 | |||||||
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Position: | Guard | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Natchez, Mississippi, U.S. | December 15, 1938||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Carr Central (Vicksburg, Mississippi) | ||||||
College: | Georgia Tech | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1961 / Round: 14 / Pick: 184 | ||||||
AFL draft: | 1961 / Round: 2 / Pick: 9 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career AFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
William Lewis Shaw (born December 15, 1938) is an American former professional football player who played as a guard for the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League (AFL). After playing college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, he was drafted by the Bills. Shaw was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison and Buck Buchanan. He won three straight Eastern Division titles and two American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965 with Buffalo.
Shaw was a first-team All-American Football League selection four times (1963–1966) and second-team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight American Football League All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team. He made the All-Decade All-pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the American Football League, and retired after the 1969 season.
Shaw is the only player ever inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame without ever playing in the NFL. (The Bills, along with the rest of the AFL, merged with the NFL the season following his retirement.)[1][2] He is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.
Early years
Shaw participated in sports throughout his entire youth. He played end in high school football at a small school right outside of Vicksburg until the school decided to drop football. His father moved the family into town so Shaw could continue to play football at Carr Central. Weighing in at 188 pounds Shaw played offensive and defensive tackle at Carr his senior year.[3]
College career
Shaw played offense while he was at
Professional career
Billy Shaw was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills in the 1961 NFL and AFL Drafts, respectively, and decided to sign with the Bills. Shaw did well at both blocking for the pass and for the run. With Bills' running backs tending to be more durable than fast, Shaw was the perfect guard. He could stay in front of the runners far down field. Shaw was known as "the driving force of the offensive unit."[7] Shaw was a first-team All-American Football League selection four times (1963–1966) and second-team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight American Football League All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team. He made the All-Decade All-pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the American Football League, and retired after the 1969 AFL season. The 1962-1964 Bills are still ranked among the best in rushing touchdowns in a season in the team's record book.
Personal life
Shaw married Patsy in 1960.
Shaw was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. During his speech, he forgot to thank his wife. After taking pictures, he went back on stage and got on his knees and apologized.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Carucci, Vic (January 31, 1999). "Billy Shaw finally handed his ticket to Canton". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ Felser, Larry (January 31, 1999). "Shaw savors the moment". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ Horrigan, Joe. "An Aw Shucks Guy." Coffin Corner. 21.4 (1999): 3. Web. September 21, 2011. <http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/21-04-808.pdf>.
- ^ Horrigan, Joe. "An Aw Shucks Guy." Coffin Corner. 21.4 (1999): 3. Web. September 21, 2011. <http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/21-04-808.pdf>.
- ^ Horrigan, Joe. "An Aw Shucks Guy." Coffin Corner. 21.4 (1999): 3. Web. September 21, 2011. <http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/21-04-808.pdf>.
- ^ Brown, Chris. "Bills All-Time draft memories: Billy Shaw." Buffalo Bills. Buffalo Bills, March 16, 2010. Web. September 28, 2011. <http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Bills-All-Time-draft-memories-Billy-Shaw/cd624aaf-a283-4a0b-bf18-316b898c8119 Archived May 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine>.
- ^ "Billy Shaw." Professional Football Hall of Fame. Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1999. Web. September 21, 2011. <http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=192>.
- ^ Graham, Tim. "10 years after speech, Billy Shaw's still apologizing." ESPN NFL. ESPN, August 8, 2009. Web. September 28, 2011. <http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/2084/10-years-after-speech-billy-shaw-s-still-apologizing>.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile