CLEVELAND, Ohio — The death of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson combined with the recurrent cancer of former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly reminds Darryl Talley of the pain and the strength of an organization where he spent 12 years.
Wilson, who bought the Bills for $25,000 in 1960 as an original member of the American Football League, died on Tuesday at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich. He was 95.
In a Podcast with The Plain Dealer, Talley said Wilson was the type of owner who made himself readily available to his players and staff. And despite the franchise’s success in a small market (four Super Bowl trips), Wilson was comfortable with his team’s presence in Buffalo.
“There were opportunities to move the team to a larger market,” said Talley, a graduate of Shaw High School. “But he believed in the people of Buffalo. He was as loyal as the fans were in the Bills.”
Kelly, one of the greatest players in Bills history, is currently battling a second recurrence of oral cancer. His wife, Jill, said in a recent interview that her 54-year-old husband’s cancer is aggressive and beginning to spread.
Talley states that if anyone can fight against this latest obstacle, it’s Kelly.
“As long as I’ve known Jim, he’s always been the kind of guy that will fight till the end,” Talley said. “I don’t see that changing now.”
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