Jim Kelly is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in NFL history – leading his team at one point to four straight Super Bowl appearances.
The Buffalo Bills legend was always the consummate professional, heaping praise on his teammates and coaches.
But atheists across the country are fuming as Kelly had a dramatic life changing conversion.
A career filled with good decisions
Jim Kelly quarterbacked the Buffalo Bills to Super Bowl appearances in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994.
It’s a feat that has never been duplicated.
Reaching that level of excellence against the top competition in the world doesn’t happen without good decision making.
Kelly’s first good choice was selecting to play collegiate at the University of Miami, where he was promised he’d play quarterback, instead of staying in his home state and playing linebacker at Penn State.
After a standout career with the Hurricanes, Kelly has another big choice to make.
Instead of signing with the team that drafted him, the Buffalo Bills, Kelly instead turned down the NFL and inked a deal with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL.
While playing in the Astrodome, Kelly broke passing records in a league that boasted quarterbacks the likes of Steve Young, Doug Flutie, and Doug Williams.
When the USFL folded, Kelly made the decision to join the Bills, and the history books reflect the wisdom of that choice.
And on the field, leading the fast-paced, no-huddle, K-Gun offense that puts virtually all the decision making on the shoulders of the man under center.
But now, it’s a decision Kelly made completely unrelated to the gridiron that he believes is the best choice of his life.
The best decision of his life
Kelly’s son Hunter died of a nervous system disease at the age of eight years old back in 2005.
Ever since then, Kelly has said he carried a grudge against God.
But this year, the Hall of Famer decided he wanted to rebuild his relationship with the Lord.
Kelly posted a video of his baptism late last month.
And the five-time pro bowler says God changed his life for the better.
“I’m far from perfect but God helped me humble myself and seek him for help,” Kelly posted. “Becoming a Christian is the best decision I’ve made in my life. I wish I would’ve come to him sooner. But his timing is perfect. And finally, I was baptized. I have so many people to thank especially all of the people who have prayed for me for so long. THANK YOU.”
The Instagram post went viral and is approaching 100,000 likes at the time of this writing.
Since retiring, Kelly has turned to charity to fill his days.
He hosts youth camps affiliated with the Bills organization.
He launched the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute founded at the University at Buffalo in 2004, where neuroscientists and clinicians are studying to find a cure for Krabbe disease.
He also started Hunter’s Hope to raise awareness about the disease.
And he hosts a yearly charity gold tournament with the proceeds going to help children.
