Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly will need to be screened over and over again for the rest of his life, but for now he’s cancer-free and feeling great.
“I feel awesome,” Kelly told The Buffalo News from his children’s football camp last week. “I’m at playing weight. I’m at 230, which is cool. I gained a little over 30 pounds back, which is good. I got the green light to work out now, which is good. I just started back. Hopefully I’ll get a bit stronger.”
While dealing with painful radiation burns on the roof of his mouth, Kelly couldn’t eat for months during treatment for his oral cancer, leading to a large weight loss around the time the Bills were sold to Kim & Terry Pegula.
Kelly was able to fully participate in his skills camp this year, something that wasn’t the case over the past few summers as he fought his cancer. He was able to get on the field and throw each day to kids that weren’t even alive when he retired 20 years ago, something not lost on the “old man.” Still, his spirit hasn’t dampened with age or hardships.
“I’ve been through so much,” said Kelly. “I just live each day, and whatever happens, happens. I’ve lived a very good life. My life has definitely changed, but the attitude is still the same.”