It’s a heartbreaking day for the NFL community as we say goodbye to a true legend! An all-time great of the American Football League, Billy Shaw, left his fans in tears on Friday, as announced by his family.

According to his family members, Billy Shaw was suffering from hyponatremia. It’s a condition where sodium levels in the blood are lower than normal. And this eventually became a serious life-threatening problem for the AFL star, who sadly passed away at his Toccoa, Georgia home. Well, before he died, Shaw was survived by his wife, Patsy, and their three daughters.

Born in 1938, the talented player lived a full life of 85 years, leaving behind a lasting legacy. Hence, paying tribute to the 1999 class Hall of Famer, the Buffalo Bills official X account shared a vintage photo of him on October 4, 2024, that reads, “We are saddened to learn about the passing of Bills Wall of Famer Billy Shaw. We are thinking of his friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time. (with red and blue heart emojis).”

Not only the Bills community, but the entire football fans’ nation joined in to mourn for the legendary player, by commenting, “Rest in peace” on the post.

Now, imagine being drafted by two teams from two rival leagues at once. That’s exactly what happened to Shaw in 1961. Both the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys wanted him. But Shaw knew his strengths very well. At 6-foot-2 and 258 pounds, with impressive speed, he believed he was built for the left guard position, not a linebacker. So, he made a bold choice and went with the AFL – a decision that would shape his career.

The AFL and NFL eventually merged in 1970, but Shaw had already retired, leaving his mark on the game just a year before that historic union. This means he’s the only Pro Football HOF member to never play in the NFL. Sharing his legendary work and some unseen traits, Hall of Fame President Jim Porter, contributed to the legend by saying, “While Billy could be unforgiving to anyone in his way on the football field, he was the classic example of the ‘Southern gentlemen’ off the field to everyone he encountered.”

Who was Billy Shaw? Meet the legend!

Billy Shaw’s journey to football greatness started at Georgia Tech, where he was a standout two-way player and an All-American. He was drafted in 1961 by both the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys saw him as a linebacker, but the Bills had other plans – defensive end or offensive line.

Shaw’s passion was defense, which drew him to the Bills, as he earlier stated, “The Cowboys wanted to play me at linebacker. We had lengthy conversations at that point in time. The Bills wanted to play me at either defensive end or an offensive line position. I really wanted to play on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end. So that triggered a real interest for me (in the Bills).” Well, with this decision, little did he know, his shift to left guard would define his career.

Over nine seasons, Shaw became a powerhouse in the AFL. He earned “eight All-Star selections, five All-AFL honors, and helped lead the Bills to two AFL championships in 1964 and 1965.” Shaw’s athleticism transformed the guard position, making him a key player in the Bills’ dominant rushing attack, especially when clearing lanes for running backs like Cookie Gilchrist.

In addition to that, his ability to block far downfield and in short-yardage situations made him a star player in the league. Hence, praising his phenomenal talent on the field, Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said, “Shaw’s all-around athleticism brought a new dimension to the guard position and made the 1960s Buffalo Bills a formidable opponent capable of bruising opponents with a punishing rushing attack.”

Now that Billy Shaw is gone, he will always be remembered in the history book of the football world as well as in the hearts of his fans!

Rest in peace, legend!