Billy Shaw 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 . 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 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 ) . ” Professional career . Billy Shaw was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills in the 1961 NFL and AFL Drafts , but decided to sign with the Bills . 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 pictures he went back on the stage and got on his knees and apologized .