View source for Billy Shaw

{{Short description|American football player (1938–2024)}}
{{for-multi|the Australian rules footballer|Billy Shaw (Australian footballer)|other people with similar names|William Shaw (disambiguation){{!}}William Shaw}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football biography
| name          = Billy Shaw
| image         = ShawPainting.png
| caption       = Shaw ''({{abbr|No.|Number}} 66)'' in 1964
| number        = 66
| position      = [[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1938|12|15}}
| birth_place   = [[Natchez, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2024|10|04|1938|12|15}}
| death_place   = [[Toccoa, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 2
| weight_lb     = 258
| high_school   = [[Carr Central High School|Carr Central]] <br> {{nowrap|([[Vicksburg, Mississippi]])}}
| college       = [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]]
| draftyear     = 1961
| draftround    = 14
| draftpick     = 184
| afldraftyear  = 1961
| afldraftround = 2
| afldraftpick  = 9
| pastteams     = 
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ([[1961 American Football League season|1961]]–[[1969 American Football League season|1969]])
| highlights    = 
* 2× [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1964 American Football League Championship Game|1964]], [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|1965]])
* 7× [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] (1962–1966, 1968, 1969)
* 8× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] ([[American Football League All-Star games|1962]]–[[American Football League All-Star games|1969]])
* [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]
* [[Buffalo Bills#Wall of Fame|Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame]]
* [[Buffalo Bills#50th Anniversary Team|Buffalo Bills 50th Anniversary Team]]
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1960 All-SEC football team|1960]])
| statleague    = AFL
| statlabel1    = Games played
| statvalue1    = 119
| statlabel2    = Games started
| statvalue2    = 116
| statlabel3    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3    = 5
| pfr           = S/ShawBi00
| HOF           = billy-shaw 
}}

'''William Lewis Shaw''' (December 15, 1938 – October 4, 2024) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] for the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL). After playing [[college football]] for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]], he was selected by the Bills in the second round of the [[1961 American Football League draft|1961 AFL draft]].  Shaw was the prototypical "[[pulling (American football)|pulling]] guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger [[Lineman (gridiron football)#Defensive line|defensive linemen]] like [[Ernie Ladd]], [[Earl Faison]] and [[Buck Buchanan]]. He won three straight Eastern Division titles and two [[American Football League playoffs|AFL championships]] in 1964 and 1965 with Buffalo.

Shaw was a first-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] selection five times (1962–1966) and second-team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Games]] and was named to the [[American Football League All-Time Team|All-Time All-AFL Team]]. He made the All-Decade All-Pro football team of the 1960s. Shaw played his entire career in the AFL, and retired after the [[1969 American Football League season|1969 season]]. He is the only member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] who never played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).

== Early life==
Born on December 15, 1938, in [[Natchez, Mississippi]],<ref name=BillyShawDies>[https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2024/10/pro-football-hall-of-famer-billy-shaw-—-a-shining-star-of-american-football-league-—-dies/ Pro Football Hall of Famer Billy Shaw — a shining star of American Football League — dies]</ref> Shaw played sports all throughout his childhood.<ref name=horrigan1999/> He attended Jett High School from 1953 to 1955,<ref name=MSHOF>[https://msfame.com/inductees/billy-shaw/ BILLY SHAW: MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE]</ref> a small country school right outside of [[Vicksburg, Mississippi|Vicksburg]].<ref name=horrigan1999/> He played as an [[End (gridiron football)|end]] until the school dropped its football program.<ref name=horrigan1999/>

In 1956, his father moved the family into Vicksburg so Shaw could continue to play football at the larger Carr Central High School. Weighing in at 188 pounds Shaw played offensive and defensive tackle during his senior year.<ref name=horrigan1999>{{cite journal|last=Horrigan|first=Joe|title=An Aw Shucks Guy|journal=Coffin Corner|url=http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/21-04-808.pdf|volume=21|issue=4|year=1999|access-date=October 5, 2024}}</ref><ref name=NYTObit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/10/sports/football/billy-shaw-dead.html Billy Shaw, a Singular Hall of Fame Lineman, Dies at 85], ''The New York Times''</ref>

== College career ==
At [[Georgia Tech]], Shaw was a [[two-way player#American football|two-way player]] from 1957 to 1960, at [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] and [[defensive tackle]]. He was named to the All-Freshman Team in the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC).<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=MSHOF/><ref name=ProHOF/><ref name=GTMourns/>

By his senior year, Shaw weighed in at 220 pounds, earning SEC Most Valuable Lineman, [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] and [[All-America college football team|All-American]] honors. "Actually," Shaw once said, "I thought I played defense much better than offense, and I still believe most of the honors I received were for my defensive play."<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=horrigan1999/><ref name=MSHOF/>

After the season, Shaw was named to the 1961 [[Chicago Charities College All-Star Game|College All-Star Team]]. The coach worked him for two weeks as a [[defensive end]] until [[guard (gridiron football)|guard]] [[Houston Antwine]] injured his ankle. This was when Shaw began playing guard. The College All-Star Team that year played the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. "I was scared to death," Shaw recalled about playing the [[National Football League|NFL]] champion Eagles in the annual all-star contest. "I was up against [[Ed Khayat]], a Mississippi boy who later finished his career with [[New England Patriots|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."<ref name=horrigan1999/> Shaw held his own,<ref name=BillyShawDies/> knocking the wind out of Eagle linebacker [[Maxie Baughan]] (who had been his roommate in college) on a big hit that attracted the attention of spectators.<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=horrigan1999/><ref name=NYTObit/>

In 1979, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name=GTMourns>[https://ramblinwreck.com/georgia-tech-mourns-passing-of-billy-shaw/ GEORGIA TECH MOURNS PASSING OF BILLY SHAW]</ref> He was named to the All-Time [[Bobby Dodd]] era Georgia Tech team.<ref name=MSHOF/> In 1985, he was inducted into the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name=MSHOF/> In 1996, he was inducted into the [[Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name=MSHOF/>

== Professional career ==
Shaw was selected by the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the second round (9th overall) of the [[1961 American Football League draft|1961 AFL draft]] and by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the 14th round (184th overall) of the [[1961 NFL draft]].<ref name=saddened>{{Cite web |title=Bills are saddened by the loss of Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Billy Shaw |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-are-saddened-by-the-loss-of-pro-football-hall-of-fame-guard-billy-shaw |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=Buffalobills.com}}</ref> "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 [[Lineman (gridiron football)#Offensive line|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)."<ref>Brown, Chris. [http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Bills-All-Time-draft-memories-Billy-Shaw/cd624aaf-a283-4a0b-bf18-316b898c8119 "Bills All-Time draft memories: Billy Shaw."] Buffalo Bills. Buffalo Bills, March 16, 2010. Web. September 28, 2011. {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524162108/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/Bills-All-Time-draft-memories-Billy-Shaw/cd624aaf-a283-4a0b-bf18-316b898c8119 |date=May 24, 2011}}.</ref> When it became clear that the Bills wanted Shaw to play guard, he still preferred playing for the Bills because he felt that his size and speed would make guard a more suitable position for him than linebacker, which was a position he had never played before. Additionally, his Georgia Tech coach, [[Bobby Dodd]], encouraged Shaw to play for Buffalo.<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=ProHOF/>

As a [[rookie]], he became a starter at left guard and played in all 14 games, an accomplishment he matched for the first six seasons of his career. He contributed to the team winning the AFL championship in 1964 and 1965. In 1967, he suffered a right knee injury in [[training camp (NFL)|training camp]], which forced him to miss five games. He returned to All-Star form the next two years.<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=horrigan1999/>

With Bills' [[running back]]s tending to be more durable than fast, Shaw became dominant as a [[pulling (American football)|pulling]] guard, often staying in front of the runners far down field. Shaw was known as "the driving force of the offensive unit."<ref name=ProHOF>[https://www.profootballhof.com/players/billy-shaw "Billy Shaw."] Professional Football Hall of Fame. Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1999. Web. September 21, 2011.</ref> He was especially adept on short-yardage situations, when he would pull out from his left guard position followed by [[Cookie Gilchrist]], [[Wray Carlton]], [[Daryle Lamonica]] or [[Jack Kemp]].<ref name=horrigan1999/><ref name=ProHOF/>

Shaw was a first-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] selection four times (1963–1966) and second-team All-AFL in 1968 and 1969. He played in eight [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Games]] and was named to the [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]. He made the All-Decade All-Pro football team of the 1960s.<ref name=horrigan1999/> Shaw played his entire career in the AFL, and retired after the 1969 AFL season, before the [[AFL–NFL merger]]. The 1962–1964 Bills are still ranked among the best in rushing touchdowns in a season in the team's record book.<ref name=ProHOF/>

In 1999, Shaw became the first and 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.)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/BILLY_SHAW_FINALLY_HANDED_HIS_TICKET_TO_CANTON.html |title=Billy Shaw finally handed his ticket to Canton |date=January 31, 1999 |work=[[The Buffalo News]] |author=Carucci, Vic |access-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922023103/http://www.buffalonews.com/BILLY_SHAW_FINALLY_HANDED_HIS_TICKET_TO_CANTON.html |archive-date=September 22, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/SHAW_SAVORS_THE_MOMENT.html |title=Shaw savors the moment |date=January 31, 1999 |work=The Buffalo News |author=Felser, Larry |access-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922023413/http://www.buffalonews.com/SHAW_SAVORS_THE_MOMENT.html |archive-date=September 22, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During his speech, he forgot to thank his wife, Patsy. After taking pictures, he went back on stage and got on his knees and apologized.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2009 |title=10 years after speech, Billy Shaw's still apologizing |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/2084/10-years-after-speech-billy-shaw-s-still-apologizing |access-date=August 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1994, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame Profile |url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/bill-shaw/ |access-date=August 15, 2024 |website=Buffalosportshallfame.com|date=July 31, 2012}}</ref> In 1988, he was inducted into the [[Buffalo Bills#Wall of Fame|Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame]].<ref name=BillyShawDies/><ref name=saddened/> In 2009, he was named to the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.<ref name=BillyShawDies/>

== Personal life and death ==
Shaw married his wife, Patsy, in 1960, and they had three children.<ref name = Maiorana>{{cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/10/04/billy-shaw-buffalo-bills-obit/75520964007/|title = Billy Shaw, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Buffalo Bills great, dead at 85|last = Maiorana|first = Sal|newspaper = [[Democrat and Chronicle]]|publisher = [[USA Today]]|date = October 4, 2024|accessdate = October 4, 2024}}</ref>
 
Shaw died from [[hyponatremia]] at his home in [[Toccoa, Georgia]], on October 4, 2024, at the age of 85.<ref name = Maiorana/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Grant |title=Bills legend, Hall of Fame guard Billy Shaw dies at 85 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/bills-legend-hall-of-fame-guard-billy-shaw-dies-at-85 |access-date=October 4, 2024 |publisher=NFL |date=October 4, 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* ''Pro Football Hall of Fame:'' [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=192 Member profile]
*{{sports links}}

{{Bills1961DraftPicks}}
{{Buffalo Bills}}
{{1964 Buffalo Bills}}
{{1965 Buffalo Bills}}
{{AFL1960s}}
{{1999 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Buffalo Bills 50th Season All-time Team}}
{{Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame}}
{{Cowboys1961DraftPicks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw, Billy}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:American football offensive linemen]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills players]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-League players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Time Team]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Natchez, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Toccoa, Georgia]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:Deaths from blood disease]]