Legendary Buffalo Bills OG Billy Shaw passes away at the age of 85

Billy Shaw, the celebrated former Buffalo Bills offensive guard during their formative AFL years and 1999 NFL Hall of Fame inductee, died on Friday, October 4 at the age of 85. Shaw holds the unique distinction of being the only member of the the Hall of Fame to play his entire career in the AFL, in which he spent all nine seasons with Buffalo from 1961-1969.

Surrounded at his bedside in Tocca, GA by his wife and three daughters in his final moments, Shaw reportedly passed away after battling hyponatremia, a condition that develops when sodium level in blood is too low.

Shaw's greatness came during an exciting era for professional football in the United States, when the fledgling AFL off-shoot began to showcase an evolved level of play that incorporated plenty of passing fireworks. But Shaw was most fondly remembered for what he brought to the Bills' running game as an ardent and bruising blocker in the trenches.

Images of Shaw's gridiron greatness often show a man dedicated to his craft and willing to do whatever necessary in freeing up those tasked running behind him. Before playing for the Bills, Shaw was an accomplished two-way player who also excelled as a defensive tackle in high school and college.

In addition to his NFL Hall of fame induction, Billy Shaw is a member of the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 1979), the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 1985), and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 1996). He is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (inducted 1994), the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame (inducted 1988), and in 2009 was named to the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.

Shaw will be fondly remembered by those he left behind, including his family, his former teammates and professional peers, and the scores of Bills Mafia fans who adored what he brought to the grid iron.