Billy Shaw
Encyclopedia
William Lewis "Billy" Shaw (born December 15, 1938 in Natchez, Mississippi
) is an American
former college and professional football
player.
Drafted in 1961 by the American Football League
's Buffalo Bills
, Billy Shaw of Georgia Tech
was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like Ernie Ladd
, Earl Faison
and Buck Buchanan
. With the Bills, he won three straight Eastern Division titles and two American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965.
Shaw was a first-team All-American Football League selection four times (1963 through 1966) and second team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight American Football League All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team
. He made the All-Decade All-pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the American Football League
, and retired after the 1969 AFL season.
Shaw is the only player ever inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
without ever playing in the NFL (The Bills along with the rest of the AFL merged with the NFL the season following his retirement). He is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.
“Actually,” Shaw once said, “l thought I played defense much better than offense, and I still believe most of the honors I received were for my defensive play.”
After the season Shaw was named to the 1961 College All-Star Team. The coach worked him for two weeks as a Defensive End
until guard Houston Antwine
injured his ankle. This is when Shaw bagan playing guard. The College All-Star Team that year played the Philadelphia Eagles
. "I was scared to death,” Shaw recalled about playing the NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles in the annual All-Star contest. "I was up against Ed Khayat
, a Mississippi boy who later finished his career with Boston (Patriots). I thought this might ease the tension a bit since he might take it easier on me. It was just the opposite. He turned me every way but loose.” Shaw played an amazing game, actually knocking the wind out of Eagle linebacker Maxie Baughan
. In the 1961 draft, Shaw was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills
, and in the 14th round by the, then rival team of the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys
. “I had been in contact with the Cowboys mostly prior to the Bills getting involved,” recalled Shaw. “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).”
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former college and professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player.
Drafted in 1961 by the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Billy Shaw of Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like Ernie Ladd
Ernie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd , nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.-Pro Football career:...
, Earl Faison
Earl Faison
Earl Faison was an American college and Professional Football player who played in the American Football League between 1960 and 1966...
and Buck Buchanan
Buck Buchanan
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American collegiate and professional Football defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League ....
. With the Bills, he won three straight Eastern Division titles and two American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965.
Shaw was a first-team All-American Football League selection four times (1963 through 1966) and second team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight American Football League All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
. He made the All-Decade All-pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, and retired after the 1969 AFL season.
Shaw is the only player ever inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
without ever playing in the NFL (The Bills along with the rest of the AFL merged with the NFL the season following his retirement). He is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.
Early Years
Shaw participated in sports throughout his entire youth. He played end in High School football at a small school right outside of Vicksburg until the school decided to drop football. His father moved the family into town so Shaw could continue to play football at Carr Central. Weighing in at 188 pounds Shaw played offensive and defensive tackle at Carr his senior year.College Career
Shaw played offense while he was at Georgia Tech. By his senior year, Shaw weighed in at 220 pounds. His senior year he earned All-American honors as a two-way tackle and was named to the Georgia Tech All-Time Team.“Actually,” Shaw once said, “l thought I played defense much better than offense, and I still believe most of the honors I received were for my defensive play.”
After the season Shaw was named to the 1961 College All-Star Team. The coach worked him for two weeks as a Defensive End
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
until guard Houston Antwine
Houston Antwine
Houston J. Antwine is a former college and professional American football player from Southern Illinois University. He was drafted by the American Football League's Houston Oilers, then traded to the Boston Patriots in 1961. He is in the Southern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame...
injured his ankle. This is when Shaw bagan playing guard. The College All-Star Team that year played the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. "I was scared to death,” Shaw recalled about playing the NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles in the annual All-Star contest. "I was up against Ed Khayat
Ed Khayat
Edward Michael "Ed" Khayat is a former college and professional football defensive lineman who played in the National Football League and for the American Football League's Boston Patriots. He was also later a head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. His career record as a coach is 8-15-2...
, a Mississippi boy who later finished his career with Boston (Patriots). I thought this might ease the tension a bit since he might take it easier on me. It was just the opposite. He turned me every way but loose.” Shaw played an amazing game, actually knocking the wind out of Eagle linebacker Maxie Baughan
Maxie Baughan
-Honors:In addition to being a member of the Georgia Tech and College Football Halls of Fame, Baughan has also been inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame , the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame. However, he has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of...
. In the 1961 draft, Shaw was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and in the 14th round by the, then rival team of the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. “I had been in contact with the Cowboys mostly prior to the Bills getting involved,” recalled Shaw. “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).”
Professional Career
Billy Shaw began playing with the Buffalo Bills in 1961. Shaw did well at both blocking for the pass and for the run. With Bills' running backs tending to be more durable than fast, Shaw was the perfect guard. He could stay in front of the runners far down field. Shaw was known as "the driving force of the offensive unit." Shaw was a first-team All-American Football League selection four times (1963 through 1966) and second team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight American Football League All-Star Games and was named to the All-Time All-AFL Team. He made the All-Decade All-pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the American Football League, and retired after the 1969 AFL season. The 1962-1964 Bills are still ranked among the best in rushing touchdowns in a season in the team's record book.Personal Life
During Billy Shaw's speech after getting into the Hall of Fame he forgot his to thank his wife. After taking picture's he went back on the stage and got on his knees and apologized.External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Shaw's 1965 Topps football card