NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly revealed that he suffered a stroke this spring and had to spend a few days in the hospital, though he feels "really good" now.
Kelly spoke to reporters in Orchard Park, New York, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Highmark Stadium, where the Bills will play beginning this season. While the day was ceremonial as the Bills begin a new era in their new stadium, Kelly's announcement wasn't news anyone expected.
"I had a little setback about a month and a half ago," Kelly explained, via ESPN. "But right now, I feel good. Eyesight’s not great. My hearing still sucks, but that’s part of life."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly stands on the field before a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium. (Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports)
The 66-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer has dealt with health problems in the past, including multiple cancer diagnoses. His latest came in 2018 when he needed surgery to remove oral cancer and reconstruct his upper jaw. He also underwent chemotherapy in 2014 for cancer found in his maxillary sinus, and had an initial surgery in 2013 to remove squamous cell carcinoma from his upper jawbone.
Kelly said that his recent cancer screenings came back "all good."
JIM KELLY REFLECTS ON WHY HE 'DECIDED TO CHANGE MY LIFE' AND TURN TO FAITH
"Everything’s good," he added.
Kelly is well known in Bills lore, having been the team’s franchise quarterback from 1986-96, where he helped lead his team to four consecutive Super Bowls. Unfortunately, all Bills fans remember how those ended – four straight defeats.
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly poses on the red carpet before the NFL Honors award show at Symphony Hall. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
Thus, the Bills still don’t have a Vince Lombardi Trophy in their team facility despite having made runs in recent seasons with Josh Allen now at the helm for Buffalo. The Bills made it as far as the AFC Championship Game twice since Allen was drafted in 2018, but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in both of those games.
Kelly, who still lives in the Western New York area and is actively involved with the Bills, is looking forward to the team’s first home game in their new stadium. The Bills will host the Detroit Lions in their regular-season opener on Sept. 17, when he hopes the new Highmark Stadium sees a victory in its debut.
"It’s going to be special, not only for the players, but imagine the fans in there, how crazy and wild and loud they’re going to get," Kelly said. "And that’s what I’m looking forward to. I want to see how loud this stadium can get. And from what I’ve been told, it’s going to be unbelievable, but I don’t expect anything less."
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly waves to the crowd as he leaves the field during the second-to-last day of the Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y., on Aug. 10, 2022. (Shawn Dowd/USA TODAY NETWORK Syndication)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Buffalo fans are notorious for their pregame rituals, whether it’s jumping through foldable tables, eating pizza out of filing cabinets, or spraying "Pinto Ron" with ketchup and mustard during tailgates. "Let’s Go Buffalo!" rang through the old Highmark Stadium for years, and that will only carry over to the new digs, which will hold a capacity 60,108 patrons on game days. The capacity, however, is over 10,000 fewer from the previous stadium, but there isn’t expected to be a bad seat in the house.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
