CANTON, Ohio -- The biggest ovation of the evening Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony didn't even belong to one of the inductees. It went to former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.
Kelly, who is battling cancer, received a double standing ovation when the Hall of Famer was introduced prior to the ceremony. He waved, soaked in the ovation, sat down and stood again as the fans' applause continued.
Kelly has been involved in a public fight against cancer. But he wasn't about to miss this Hall of Fame ceremony, especially when his top receiver, Andre Reed, was being inducted along with a class that included Giants legend Michael Strahan.
"In my mind it was a must [to attend]," Kelly told reporters prior to the ceremony.
Reed talked about Kelly as a teammate, player and part of his family during his speech. It even ended with Kelly throwing one last pass to his top receiver, followed by a long embrace between the former teammates.
It was the second straight night Bills fans -- who dominated the weekend end Canton -- were treated to a special moment. Kelly also attended Friday night's Gold Jacket Dinner. He was greeted with a rousing standing ovation there was well.
The Bills legend was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was diagnosed with cancer of the jaw in 2013.
Jim Kelly, the great quarterback of the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s, is still ailing as he battles cancer. But no matter how sick Kelly is, he wouldn’t dream of being anywhere other than Canton, Ohio, this weekend to witness his receiver Andre Reed’s induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kelly’s wife, Jill Kelly, told the Buffalo Newsthat it won’t be easy for Jim.
“He’s pushing it,” Jill said. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s not as if he’s all better and good to go. There’s still the looming test in August, the not knowing if treatments worked, the fact that he’s still on a feeding tube. His life is still in that place of uncertainty, not knowing really what’s going to happen with all of this. So he’s still beat down; he’s still tired, he still gets sick quite a bit. But he would not miss this for the world.”
Kelly wants to be there for Reed in large part because Reed has been there for Kelly, traveling with him to support him during cancer treatments.
“Andre was at the hospital,” Jill Kelly said. “He was at the house the day we flew to New York City. He came to New York and again when we got back. Every time Andre was there, Jim was down and out, struggling. But it was always the conversation. It was a given that Jim was going to be at the Hall of Fame.”
Kelly will stay in Canton for a day after Reed’s enshrinement, as he’s been chosen to toss the coin at the start of the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night.
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