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Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

BBMKT-08578_-_Hall_of_Fame_Page_Headers_Bruce (2)

2009 Inductee

Career Highlights

NFL's all-time sack leader with 200.

Bills' all-time sack leader with 171.

Selected to 11 Pro Bowls.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1996.

Widely regarded as one of the most dominant     defensive players ever to play in the National Football League, Bruce Smith began his tenure with the Buffalo Bills in 1985. Over the next 19 seasons, Smith would amass more sacks (200) than any other player in NFL history. In Buffalo, Smith anchored the defense for 15 years, which ranks first (along with WR Andre Reed) for the most seasons played in a Bills uniform. In 10 of those years, Buffalo reached the postseason.

Taken with the first overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, Smith started 13 games his rookie year and collected 48 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Those numbers jumped to 63 and 15.0, respectively, in 1986.

Perhaps his finest year came in 1990, when he posted 101 tackles, 19.0 sacks and 14 QB pressures while the team won its first of four consecutive AFC Championships. Smith was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times in his career and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1996. 

Known for his ability to get to the opposing quarterback, Smith racked up sacks against 74 different quarterbacks and against every team but three: San Diego, Buffalo, and Baltimore. He ranks first in NFL history with 13 seasons of 10 or more sacks and second on the all-time postseason sack list with 14.5. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade team in both the 1980's and 1990's. Smith was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week eight times during his Bills tenure, and Defensive Player of the Month six times. Extremely durable, Smith ranks 16th on the all-time games played list with 279.

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