James Edward Kelly was born on the 14th February 1960 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA. He earned his popularity and net worth while playing in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, before his retirement in 1996. During his career, Kelly won numerous prestigious awards, including five Pro Bowl appearances, and four times AFC Champion with his team among others; however, his career peaked in 2002 when he was inducted into the Football Hall Of Fame. His career was active from 1984 to 1996.
Have you ever wondered how rich Jim Kelly is? According to sources, it is estimated that Jim Kelly`s overall net worth is $20 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a football player.
Jim Kelly Net Worth $20 Million
Kelly grew up in East Brady, 60 miles away from where he was born. His education includes a diploma from the East Brady High School, where he first showed his football skills and after leaving which he attended the University Of Miami, where he continued playing football, leaving his own mark with 32 touchdowns and eventually becoming a member of the University`s Hall Of Fame in 1992. Upon graduation from the university, he entered the 1983 NFL Draft, and was selected as the 4th pick by the Buffalo Bills, however he declined the contract and signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League.
Jim spent two years with the Houston Gamblers until the USFL league folded in 1986. Although Kelly was there only for two years, his popularity and net worth grew as he was one of the greatest players in the league. In his debut year, he was selected as MVP of the league, Rookie Of The Year and was also selected for the USFL All-League Team.
After the league ceased to exist, he joined with the Buffalo Bills as they still had rights over him since the draft. He stayed with the Buffalo Bills for 11 seasons, until his retirement in 1996. His net worth and popularity increased during those years, as he continued to play at the same high level in NFL as he had achieved in the USFL. In 1987 he earned his first Pro Bowl appearance, which he repeated four more times, consecutively until the1992 season. In 1990 Kelly and the Buffalo Bills won their first AFC Championship, a feat they repeated each season until 1993, although they failed to win any of the subsequent Super Bowls.
Further in his successful career, Jim also holds the all-time NFL record for most yards gained by completion in a single game and he is the Buffalo Bills all-time career leader, his records for his 11 NFL seasons and 160 games being 2,874 completions in 4,779 attempts for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns, with 175 interceptions. Additionally he rushed for 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns.
During his career, he became the greatest player of the Buffalo Bills and eventually the club retired Kelly`s jersey number 12 as an honor to his success. In 2002 he was inducted into the Football Hall Of Fame.
Jim Kelly`s name is also known beyond the professional football league, as he has founded football camps for youths between eight and 18 years of age. Starting in 1998, the Camps feature over 500 future football stars a year, trained by some of the best players and coaches, including Jim Kelly himself.
When it comes to his personal life, Kelly has been married to Jill Kelly since 1996, and they had three children, however, son Hunter born in 1997 died in 2005, due to the consequences of the Krabbe disease, diagnosed shortly upon his birth. In honor of his son, Kelly founded the non-profit organization Hunter`s Hope, furthermore in 2004 the University of Buffalo founded the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute.
In 2013, Jim underwent a surgery to remove cancer that had formed in his upper jaw. The cancer came back on two different occasions, but he is finally clear of the disease. Currently, he is promoting a book co-written by his wife and daughter Erin, entitled “Kelly Tough: Live Courageously By Faith”.
Leave a Comment