Not to be confused withJim Kelly (TE · 1974).

Also in other sports:mlbJim Kelly (RF · 1914–1918).

Jim Kelly is a Hall of Fame quarterback whose career earned a strong career value score of 71 in the Knox value model. Kelly's enshrinement reflects a career that consistently placed him among the elite of his generation.

On the boards· Appears on 2 boards

QBBUF#12ACT

Jim Kelly

★ HALL OF FAME5× Pro Bowl1× All-ProTop 5% all-time QBsIron Legend⚙️ Sustained Machine · 1991

Height6'3"

Weight

Career Value · VORP

326 career value over replacement — #100 all-time of 4,695. 29.6/season above a replacement-level QB.

Draft OutcomeValue ↑

Pick #14 (Rd 1) · BUF · 1983 · +13.3 vs expected KV-H

71actual

57.7 expected · Δ+13.3

💔+29.3 stolen VORP·0.99 szns lost

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Compare Jim Kelly vs Player Report data error

Combined Season Grid

Season totals or exact team stints. Career totals count each season once.

3 categories · One row per season · Scroll for all statistics

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	VAL	Passing													Rushing								Receiving
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	VAL	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
1986	26–27	BUF	16	—	15.9	285	480	59.4%	3,593	22	17	4.6	3.5	7.5	6.8	1.3	83.3	43	41	199	0	4.9	0.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1987	27–28	BUF	12	—	18.5	250	419	59.7%	2,798	19	11	4.5	2.6	6.7	6.4	1.7	83.8	27	29	133	0	4.6	0.0	—	—	—	—	1	35	0	—	35.0	—	—	—
1988	28–29	BUF	16	—	11.1	269	452	59.5%	3,380	15	17	3.3	3.8	7.5	6.4	0.9	78.2	30	35	154	0	4.4	0.0	—	—	—	—	1	5	0	—	5.0	—	—	—
1989	29–30	BUF	13	—	19.4	228	391	58.3%	3,130	25	18	6.4	4.6	8.0	7.2	1.4	86.2	30	29	137	2	4.7	6.9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	30–31	BUF	14	—	21.6	219	346	63.3%	2,829	24	9	6.9	2.6	8.2	8.4	2.7	101.2	20	22	63	0	2.9	0.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	31–32	BUF	15	—	28.2	304	474	64.1%	3,844	33	17	7.0	3.6	8.1	7.9	1.9	97.6	31	20	45	1	2.3	5.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992	32–33	BUF	16	—	17.9	269	462	58.2%	3,457	23	19	5.0	4.1	7.5	6.6	1.2	81.2	20	31	53	1	1.7	3.2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1993	33–34	BUF	16	—	13.9	288	470	61.3%	3,382	18	18	3.8	3.8	7.2	6.2	1.0	79.9	25	36	102	0	2.8	0.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994	34–35	BUF	14	—	13.4	285	448	63.6%	3,114	22	17	4.9	3.8	7.0	6.2	1.3	84.6	34	25	77	1	3.1	4.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995	35–36	BUF	15	—	13.7	255	458	55.7%	3,130	22	13	4.8	2.8	6.8	6.5	1.7	81.1	26	17	20	0	1.2	0.0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996	36–37	BUF	13	—	8.2	222	379	58.6%	2,810	14	19	3.7	5.0	7.4	5.9	0.7	73.2	37	19	66	2	3.5	10.5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Career		—	160	—	181.8	2,874	4,779	60.1%	35,467	237	175	5.0	3.7	7.4	6.8	1.4	84.4	323	304	1,049	7	3.5	2.3	—	—	—	—	2	40	0	—	20.0	—	—	—

Career arc · VAL by season

11 seasons · peak 28.2 in 1991

VAL (Value Above League) measures each NFL season against that season's league; the dashed line is zero — a season that added nothing above the league's fringe. ● peak · ○ league-best season.

What he added · wins above replacement

13.9 career wins over 11 seasons · 1 win = 13.08 VAL

Best season · 1991 · +2.2 wins

2.2 of BUF's 13 wins (17%)

Estimated from the season line (early era)

Passing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	TD%	Int%	Y/A	AdjY/A	TD:INT	Rate	Sk	VAL
1986	26–27	BUF	16	—	285	480	59.4%	3,593	22	17	4.6	3.5	7.5	6.8	1.3	83.3	43	15.9
1987	27–28	BUF	12	—	250	419	59.7%	2,798	19	11	4.5	2.6	6.7	6.4	1.7	83.8	27	18.5
1988	28–29	BUF	16	—	269	452	59.5%	3,380	15	17	3.3	3.8	7.5	6.4	0.9	78.2	30	11.1
1989	29–30	BUF	13	—	228	391	58.3%	3,130	25	18	6.4	4.6	8.0	7.2	1.4	86.2	30	19.4
1990	30–31	BUF	14	—	219	346	63.3%	2,829	24	9	6.9	2.6	8.2	8.4	2.7	101.2	20	21.6
1991	31–32	BUF	15	—	304	474	64.1%	3,844	33	17	7.0	3.6	8.1	7.9	1.9	97.6	31	28.2
1992	32–33	BUF	16	—	269	462	58.2%	3,457	23	19	5.0	4.1	7.5	6.6	1.2	81.2	20	17.9
1993	33–34	BUF	16	—	288	470	61.3%	3,382	18	18	3.8	3.8	7.2	6.2	1.0	79.9	25	13.9
1994	34–35	BUF	14	—	285	448	63.6%	3,114	22	17	4.9	3.8	7.0	6.2	1.3	84.6	34	13.4
1995	35–36	BUF	15	—	255	458	55.7%	3,130	22	13	4.8	2.8	6.8	6.5	1.7	81.1	26	13.7
1996	36–37	BUF	13	—	222	379	58.6%	2,810	14	19	3.7	5.0	7.4	5.9	0.7	73.2	37	8.2
Career			160		2,874	4,779	60.1%	35,467	237	175	5.0	3.7	7.4	6.8	1.4	84.4	323	181.8

Rushing

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	TD	Y/A	TD%	1D	1D%	Fmb
1986	26–27	BUF	16	—	41	199	0	4.9	0.0	—	—	—
1987	27–28	BUF	12	—	29	133	0	4.6	0.0	—	—	—
1988	28–29	BUF	16	—	35	154	0	4.4	0.0	—	—	—
1989	29–30	BUF	13	—	29	137	2	4.7	6.9	—	—	—
1990	30–31	BUF	14	—	22	63	0	2.9	0.0	—	—	—
1991	31–32	BUF	15	—	20	45	1	2.3	5.0	—	—	—
1992	32–33	BUF	16	—	31	53	1	1.7	3.2	—	—	—
1993	33–34	BUF	16	—	36	102	0	2.8	0.0	—	—	—
1994	34–35	BUF	14	—	25	77	1	3.1	4.0	—	—	—
1995	35–36	BUF	15	—	17	20	0	1.2	0.0	—	—	—
1996	36–37	BUF	13	—	19	66	2	3.5	10.5	—	—	—
Career			160		304	1,049	7	3.5	2.3	—	—	—

Receiving

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Ctch%	Y/R	Y/Tgt	AirYd/T	1D
1987	27–28	BUF	12	—	—	1	35	—	35.0	—	—	—
1988	28–29	BUF	16	—	—	1	5	—	5.0	—	—	—
Career			28		—	2	40	—	20.0	—	—	—

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 71 · Great

A great career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 71 of 100, era-normalized against pass yds/g peers across 11 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 68.4 × longevity 1 = KV-H 71· confidence 100%

What builds the career mark of 66

On-field 47.5

Availability 18.5

On-field production