Jan 13 2025
Jim Kelly is a legendary NFL quarterback whose success on the field is second only to the resilience he has shown during his retirement.
Jim Kelly is a legendary NFL quarterback known for his success in the USFL and NFL. He is most well known for his four consecutive Super Bowl appearances with the Buffalo Bills in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Hire Jim Kelly for corporate and private events. He is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Jim Kelly’s fees.
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-510-6607 to book Jim Kelly for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.
The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field, so whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting, or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.
The 1983 NFL Draft was full of quarterbacks that would one day break NFL records. However, most of them did not want to play in the cold. Most notably, #1 overall pick John Elway refused to sign with the Baltimore Colts, the team who selected him, even threatening to play baseball instead if the team did not trade him away. Seeing this issue, Kelly’s agent asked if there were any teams that he would not play for. Kelly, who also disliked cold weather, listed the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. Kelly happily watched the Bills pass on him with the 12th overall pick, until his agent reminded him that the Bills also had the 14th pick, which they ultimately used to select him.
Unlike Elway, Kelly begrudgingly accepted his fate and met with the team to negotiate his contract. But during the meeting, the Bill’s secretary let the rival United States Football League reach Kelly on the telephone. They persuaded Kelly to leave the meeting without signing anything and offered him the choice to sign with any team in the USFL. He signed with the Houston Gamblers who played in a climate-controlled stadium, stating, “Would you rather be in Houston or Buffalo?” In two seasons with the Gamblers, he threw for 9,842 yards and 83 touchdowns. But the USFL folded after the 1985 season and Kelly signed with the Bills for the 1986 NFL season.
With the Bills, Kelly was a star. He rewrote the Bills’ record book for quarterbacks and led the team to four consecutive Super Bowls. Notoriously, the Bills came up short in all four of those Super Bowls, making them the only franchise to reach and lose the Super Bowl four years in a row. Despite his four consecutive Super Bowl losses, Kelly reflects fondly on his career:
“… the best decision of my life proved to be the day I signed with the Buffalo Bills.”
Only three players in NFL history had reached the 30,000-yard career passing mark faster than Kelly. At the time of his retirement, only three Hall of Fame quarterbacks passed for more yards and only two completed more passes than Kelly. Additionally, his 84.4 passer rating ranked sixth all-time and his 237 touchdowns ranked thirteenth. Kelly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, his first year of eligibility. However, Kelly’s retirement has become a story of resilience instead of leisure.
In 2005, Kelly’s eight-year-old son, Hunter, died from complications of Krabbe disease, a rare condition that affects the nervous system. The Kellys founded Hunter’s Hope in their son’s honor, to address the acute need for information and research on Krabbe Disease, and continue that commitment today. Then in 2013, Jim announced he had cancer in his jaw. After surgery and radiation, he was declared cancer free in 2014. But mere months later, MRSA bacteria was found in his bones. He underwent treatment and was finally cleared after several weeks. Unfortunately, in 2018 Kelly announced that the cancer had returned to his upper jaw. Again, he underwent treatment and surgery. And again, he became cancer free in 2019.
Whether you are looking for a sports legend or an inspirational story of resilience, hire Jim Kelly today.
Find out how to hire Jim Kelly to appear at your next event. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about Jim Kelly’s availability and cost. When booking Jim Kelly for an event, we need to know the type of venue and location the event will take place. Jim Kelly is a popular choice for corporate events, private events, and virtual events. So, you can click the Check Availability button or contact us and an MPG Jim Kelly booking agent will get back to you within 48 hours.
How much to book Jim Kelly depends on the type of event. So, the cost to hire Jim Kelly for corporate or private events is available by contacting a Mollie Plotkin Group Agent. Notably, Jim Kelly is available for conferences, festivals, private parties and events. Just contact the Mollie Plotkin Group and tell the booking agent the proposed date, time, and location.
Our speakers are in high demand! View their upcoming events.
