The 15 best Miami football NFL careers in Hurricanes history
Buffalo Bills. Jim Kelly. 14. player. 16. . QB
No. 10 Miami football NFL career in league history: Jim Kelly
1983 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 14
Buffalo Bills, 1986–1996
Jim Kelly took an unconventional route to the NFL after four seasons at Miami, first playing for the Houston Gamblers of the USFL for two seasons. Unlike most who the spring league football route, though, Kelly wasn’t passed over for an NFL spot. In fact, the East Brady, Pennsylvania native was taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft but didn’t want to play in a cold-weather location like Buffalo, so Kelly instead sat out from pro football’s highest level for three years.
Once Kelly did finally get to Buffalo, though, he became a franchise legend. Kelly has his No. 12 retired and is part of the Bills’ Hall of Fame. The Bills made four consecutive Super Bowl appearances and won six divisional championships from 1988 to 1995 with Kelly under center.
Sometimes things are worth the wait. For Kelly’s tenure in Buffalo, no Bills fan would disagree with that statement.
Philadelphia Eagles. Jerome Brown. 9. player. 54. . DT
No. 9 Miami football NFL career in league history: Jerome Brown
1987 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 9
Philadelphia Eagles, 1987–1991
The life of Jerome Brown was tragically cut short ahead of the 1992 season, ending prematurely what was looking like an all-time NFL career. NBC Sports’ Ray Didinger broke down the heartbreaking timeline of Brown’s death given his recent accomplishments at the time.
"“(Brown) was coming off his best season in 1991. He led the NFLs defensive tackles in solo stops (88) and ranked near the top in quarterback sacks (nine). He made the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year and helped the Eagles defense finish first overall. Like many of his teammates, Brown was still burning over the dismissal of head coach Buddy Ryan the previous year and played the 1991 season to prove a point. He worked harder and dropped 30 pounds, which improved his stamina and quickness. He also got a tighter grip on his emotions.”"
Brown is a what-if that can be speculated all day, but the only thing necessary to say is that his greatness was never truly discovered given the circumstances of his passing.