LB Shane Conlan (1987-1992) | 6'3", 235 pounds

Notable Achievements: Three-time Pro Bowl Selection (1988-1990), AP Second-Team All-Pro (1987, 1988, 1990), 1987 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Shane Patrick Conlan was born on April 3, 1964 in Olean, New York. Conlan was a three sport star at Frewsburg (NY) High, excelling at basketball, baseball, and of course, football. He was a three-year all-league selection in basketball and a four-time all-league selection as a catcher in baseball. In fact, Conlan was offered a contract on the spot by the Pittsburgh Pirates after a tryout. He decided to stick with football, where he was an all-league performer at running back (rushing for a school record 1,029 yard during his senior year) and linebacker, which helped him earn a scholarship to Linebacker U, Penn State.

As a Nittany Lion, Conlan became a superstar. He had to redshirt his first season due to an injury, but was a major factor for Penn State's defense for the next four years. After a freshman season in which he was a part-time player at outside linebacker, Conlan really started to make some noise as a sophomore. He led the team with 77 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. During his junior season, Conlan began to make a name for himself nationally, as he was named an All-American following a 91-tackle, four sack season. He capped the year by being named the defensive Most Valuable Player in Penn State's Orange Bowl loss to Oklahoma. His senior season would prove to be a magical one individually and for the Nittany Lions. Named an All-American for a second consecutive season, Conlan finished the year with 79 tackles, including 63 solo stops to lead the defense. Penn State would go on to finish the season undefeated and win the national championship, led largely by the play of Conlan during the 1987 Fiesta Bowl against previously unbeaten Miami. He had eight tackles and picked off two passes, returning the second one 38 yards to the 5-yard line to set up the game winning touchdown as Penn State would win 14-10.

The Buffalo Bills traded down from third overall with the Houston Oilers to select the Western New York native with the eighth pick of the 1987 NFL Draft. His impact was immediate, and a huge boost to a vastly improving Buffalo defense.

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DT Jim Dunaway (1963-1971) | 6'5", 277 pounds

Notable Achievements: Four-time Pro Bowl selections (1965-1968), First-team All-Pro (1966), Member of AFL Hall of Fame

James Kenneth Dunaway was born on September 3, 1941 in Columbia, Mississippi. After graduating from Columbia High School, Dunaway stayed in-state to attend the University of Mississippi, where he went on to have a storied career for the Rebels. During his first season in 1960, the team went 10-0-1, including a 14-6 win over Rice in the Sugar Bowl. The team was also named national champions by the Football Writers Association of America, the Dunkel System, and the Williamson System that season. Dunaway became a staple of the program, earning All-SEC and All-American honors in 1961 and 1962. The Rebels also won a share of the National Championship in 1962 after defeating Arkansas 17-13 in the Sugar Bowl to finish the season undefeated and untied. That undefeated season was all the more remarkable as it came during the fall of the Ole Miss riot of 1962, a very pivotal moment in the history of civil rights in this country. Following his exceptional career and the team's incredible season, Dunaway played in the Senior Bowl, Chicago All-Star Game and the Coaches All-America Bowl. He was named to the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and the school's All-Century team in 1992.

The Bills made Dunaway the fifth pick of Round 2 during the 1963 AFL Draft. The Vikings had also drafted Dunaway third overall in the NFL Draft that year. In a surprise move, Dunaway spurned the NFL for the Bills and the still-developing AFL. He signed with the team on January 2, 1963, and thus began a long, illustrious career spanning a decade. Dunaway would spend nine seasons in Buffalo before finishing his career playing six games and winning a Super Bowl ring with the undefeated Dolphins in 1972.

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DE Ron McDole (1963-1970) | 6'4", 265 pounds

Notable Achievements: Two-time Pro Bowl selection (1965, 1967), First-team All-Pro (1966), Second-team All-Time All-AFL, Member of Bills' 25th Anniversary Team, Member of AFL Hall of Fame

Roland Owen McDole was born on September 9, 1939 in Chester, Ohio. He grew up in Toledo, and would go on to play fullback and end at Thomas DeVilbiss High School before heading out to the University of Nebraska for college. McDole was a three-year letterman at Nebraska at right tackle, where he played with future NFL stars CB Pat Fischer and C Mick Tinglehoff. He started every game his junior season and was named a co-captain his senior year along with Fischer.

Following a stellar college career, McDole played in the Senior Bowl, Blue-Gray Game and the Coaches' All-America Game after the 1960 season. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1961 AFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, and the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, where he began his professional career in 1961. After a lone season the NFL, McDole moved onto the Houston Oilers of the AFL, where he would spend the 1962 season before joining the Bills. He would go on to play eight seasons as the starting left defensive end in Buffalo, and then another eight in Washington before retiring after the 1978 season. McDole was named to the Bills' Silver Anniversary team in 1985, as well as the Redskins' all-time team.

Career Highlights

After a pair of undistinguished seasons with the Cardinals and Oilers, Bills head coach Lou Saban decided to give McDole a chance in Buffalo. He had struggled with migraines as a member of the Oilers, and was afraid his professional career was going to end before it really got started. Luckily for him, and the Bills, Saban was willing to take a chance on McDole, and for that, he was forever grateful:

"I used to have what was called migraine seizure," commented McDole. "It was the closest thing you could ever get to an epileptic attack. I had started getting those when I was with the Oilers. I would get really bad headaches. And I would react strangely to them. But Saban and the Bills were willing to take a chance on me when other teams wouldn't. I'll always be grateful to Lou for giving me that chance." ~Legends of the Buffalo Bills by Randy Schultz, p.44

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FS Tony Greene (1971-1979) | 5'10", 170 pounds

Notable Achievements: One-time Pro Bowl Selection (1977), First-team All-Pro (1974)

Anthony Greene was born August 29, 1949 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1966, and decided to stay in-state to attend the University of Maryland. Greene was a three-year player for the Terrapins and was named one of the team captains during his senior year. Following a good college career, Greene went undrafted in the 1971 NFL Draft. He decided to sign with the Buffalo Bills and went on to become a long-time starter for the team through the '70s. He spent nine seasons in Buffalo and finished his career as one of the best defensive backs in team history. Greene was given the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award in 1995, an honor given to former Bills for long and meritorious contributions to the franchise. He was also inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Career Highlights
After facing the disappointment of going undrafted in the 1971 NFL Draft, Greene was contacted by a number of NFL teams trying to secure his services. Greene felt the Bills gave him the best chance at making the team and forging an NFL career. It also helped that one of his former coaches at Maryland was now on the Bills' staff:

"Ralph Hawkins [an assistant coach with the Bills from 1969-71 and 1981-82] had been a coach at Maryland when I was there," remembered Greene.  "He was one of the main reasons I signed with Buffalo. I could have signed with several teams, including the Dallas Cowboys or Washington Redskins, two teams who had also contacted me, but I just felt as though I had a better chance of making it with the Bills. It just happened that I was in the right place at the right time." ~Legends of the Buffalo Bills by Randy Schultz, p. 70

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DE Aaron Schobel (2001 - present) | 6'4", 243 lbs

Notable Achievements: Two-time Pro Bowl selection, Second Team All-Pro (2006)

Aaron Ross Schobel was born on September 1, 1977 in Columbus, Texas. He went on to earn All-District honors at Columbus High School at both outside linebacker and tight end.  He posted 105 tackles during his senior year and proved to be a prolific receiver, pulling down 70 receptions for 1,299 yards over his final two seasons.  Following his stellar high school career, Schobel went on to attend Texas Christian University (where he was a teammate of LaDainian Tomlinson). As a Horned Frog, Schobel developed into one of the nation's best defenders by his senior season. He graduated as the school's all-time leader in sacks with 31.0 and in tackling yardage for loss with 315.  Schobel earned First Team All-WAC honors in each of his final three seasons (1998-2000), and was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.  Following a great career at TCU, the Buffalo Bills made Schobel a second-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, No. 46 overall.  He has developed into one of the better defenders in Bills history during his eight seasons as a pro.

Career Highlights
Schobel is one of the more under-appreciated defensive players in team history, with a quality all-around game, albeit with some questionable pass rushing skills.  Although many Bills fans, including yours truly, have never considered him an elite pass rusher, his consistency and overall production speaks volumes.

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OT Will Wolford (1986-1992) | 6'5", 294 lbs

Notable Achievements: Two-time Pro Bowl Selection

William Charles Wolford was born on May 18, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, where he was honorable mention All-State in basketball, before heading to Vanderbilt University.  He played for the Commodores from 1982 through 1985, where he played left guard and right tackle before earning All-SEC honors in his senior year.  He was also named captain of the team in 1985 and played in the Senior Bowl that season.  The Bills made Wolford the No. 20 overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft; he would spend the next seven seasons as the team's starting left tackle. He played in the team's first three Super Bowl appearances before leaving for Indianapolis in free agency.  Wolford spent three seasons with the Colts and another three with the Steelers before retiring; he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Career Highlights
After being an immediate contributor at Vanderbilt - where he earned Freshman All-American honors in 1982 - Wolford was also an immediate contributor for the Bills.  The Bills had traded second and fourth round picks to the San Francisco 49ers to move into the first round to select Wolford:

On draft day of that year, the San Francisco 49ers were preparing to make their first-round pick, the 20th overall; Will and Jude were watching the draft on TV when the telephone rang. It was the Bills calling for Wolford. "Would you be interested in playing for us?" asked a voice.

"I'd be interested in playing for anybody," Wolford replied.

"I went crazy," Wolford says. "I couldn't believe it." Jude looked over and teased, "Buffalo? Where's that?"

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QB Joe Ferguson (1973-1984) | 6'1", 195 lbs

Notable Achievements: Bills Wall of Fame

Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. was born on April 23, 1950 in Alvin, Texas.  He went on to star for Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Louisiana and was recruited by the University of Arkansas.  Ferguson lettered with the Razorbacks from 1970-1972 and went on to set numerous school passing records. He finished his college career as the school leader in passing attempts (611) and was second in completions (327), yards (4,431) and touchdowns (24). He also set a handful of individual game records.  He was named Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year following the 1971 season and elected to play in the North-South Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl after his senior season.  He was voted to the Razorbacks' All-Decade Team ('70s) and All-Century Team, inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, inducted into the UofA Sports Hall of Honor in 1993 and named a SEC Football Legend in 1995. He later coached quarterbacks at the school from 1997-2000.

After his storied career at Arkansas, the Bills selected Ferguson with a third-round pick in the 1973 NFL Draft (No. 57 overall).  He went on to have a long career with the Bills, before playing three season with the Detroit Lions (1985-1987), two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988-1989), and one game with the Indianapolis Colts in 1990.  He would later join the San Antonio Texans of the Canadian Football League at the age of 45 in 1995.  Ferguson's career in Buffalo was marked with some outstanding play along with some terrible performances during some of the leanest years in Bills history.

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DE Phil Hansen (1991-2001) | 6'5", 278 lbs.

Notable Achievements: Division II Hall of Fame, North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame

Phillip Allen Hansen was born on May 20, 1968 in Oakes, North Dakota.  He grew up on his family's 4,000-acre farm and attended Oakes High School.  He became a two-time all conference selection in high school, playing on the defensive line, the offensive line, at LB and at RB.  After high school he stayed in his home state, attending North Dakota State University, and became one of the best defensive players in Division II history.  While at NDSU, he helped lead the Bison to a pair of national championships in 1988 and 1990.  He was the anchor of a very good defense for three seasons and earned All-American honors twice, while the team went 42-7-1 during his tenure, including a pair of undefeated 14-0 seasons when they won the national title.

Hansen matched the school record with 41 sacks and set a school record with 32 career pass break-ups.  He also earned plenty of accolades for his play.  Hansen was named All-North Central Conference and the league's Most Valuable Player twice during his career.  He played in three college all-star games following his senior season - the East-West Shrine game, the Blue-Gray Football Classic, and the All-American Classic.  He was also named to the NCAA Division II "Team of the Quarter Century," where he was the top vote-getter among defensive linemen.  Finally, he was named Small College Defensive Lineman of the Year by the NFL Draft Report after his final season.  These honors, along with his excellent play on the field, opened the eyes of many NFL draft scouts.  The Bills were lucky enough to grab Hansen with their second round pick in 1991, the No. 54 overall selection.  He would go on to play 11 seasons for the team and retired as one of the best defensive ends in team history.

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