SPORTS

Bills great Jim Kelly says he recently had stroke but feels 'good'

June 24th, 2026

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly said Tuesday that he suffered a stroke this spring and subsequently spent a few days in the hospital but currently feels "really good."

Kelly was speaking with reporters at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Buffalo Bills' new stadium.

"I had a little setback about a month and a half ago," Kelly said. "But right now, I feel good. Eyesight's not great. My hearing still sucks, but that's part of life."

Kelly, 66, has dealt with a variety of health issues over the years and has been diagnosed with cancer multiple times. He initially had surgery in 2013 to remove squamous cell carcinoma of the upper jawbone and underwent chemotherapy treatment in 2014 when cancer was found in his maxillary sinus. Kelly then had surgeries in 2018 to remove oral cancer and reconstruct his upper jaw.

He said his recent scans have come back clean.

Nutrasen - Natural Wellness


"Everything's good," Kelly said. "All good."

The former quarterback played for the Bills from 1986 to 1996, appearing in four consecutive Super Bowls. He received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance in 2018.

Kelly, who remains in the western New York area, said he is looking ahead to the 2026 regular-season home opener (Sept. 17 vs. the Detroit Lions) and hopes to enjoy many years at the new Highmark Stadium with his grandson.

"It's going to be special, not only for the players, but imagine the fans in there, how crazy and wild and loud they're going to get," Kelly said. "And that's what I'm looking forward to. I want to see how loud this stadium can get. And from what I've been told, it's going to be unbelievable, but I don't expect anything less."

Curated By

Maya Gupta
Investigative Journalist | Grassroots Movement Organizer | Economy Consultant/Speaker
Maya Gupta writes from the fault lines of a world that refuses to stay quiet. Focused on the collisions between culture, power, and accountability, her work cuts past polished narratives to expose what’s really moving beneath the surface. From the rise of creator-driven influence to athlete activism and grassroots resistance, she tracks the momentum shaping a generation unwilling to wait its turn. Her reporting doesn’t cater to comfort, it confronts it, challenging institutions that lean on legacy instead of legitimacy. With a voice rooted in urgency and a lens tuned to those often ignored, Maya delivers coverage that reflects the stakes as they are, not as they’re packaged. This is journalism that doesn’t just observe change, it stands in the middle of it, documenting the push, the backlash, and the undeniable shift underway.
Comments (1)

Suggested Reading

If These Walls Could Talk: Buffalo Bills: Stories from the Buffalo Bills Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box

As the longtime play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bills, John Murphy knows what it means to live and breathe Bills football. In If These Walls Could Talk: Buffalo Bills, Murphy opens up about his life and career in Buffalo and provides insight into the team's inner sanctum as only he can, from Jim K...

Legends of the Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Other Bills Stars

Legends of the Buffalo Bills, first published in 2003, is not only a story about a National Football League team. It is also the story of the city it occupies and its fans. Original members of “The Foolish Club,” a group of owners who bought into the idea of forming the American Football League to g...

Second to None: The Relentless Drive and the Impossible Dream of the Super Bowl Bills

In Second to None, author Joe Valerio tells the incredible story of the Buffalo Bills: the perpetual almost-champions and their indomitable fans. The Bills’ incredible skill and teamwork on the field was matched only by their single-minded determination as, in the four years spanning 1991 to 1994, t...

Kelly Tough: Live Courageously by Faith

Do not let the title Kelly Tough fool you. This is not a “be all you can be, no pain–no gain” story. Toughness is overrated. And being Kelly Tough, well, you are about to find out what that really means and why it just might matter to you. Kelly Tough is a story of love and hope: a love between a f...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.