People frequently create rankings of the greatest football players of all time, whether by position or overall. At the top of most of these lists is quarterback Tom Brady, who is widely regarded as the most accomplished player in NFL history. Like it or not, the only player currently seen as having a shot at catching up to Brady’s legacy is Patrick Mahomes.
That said, there are plenty of other players who are near-unanimous choices for all-time lists due to their impact on the game and career accomplishments. Unfortunately, some deserving players are often overlooked. Buffalo Bills players — past and present — are no strangers to this kind of neglect, as the team frequently gets overlooked and disrespected in these conversations.
A recent example is Bills legend Bruce Smith, who was notably snubbed from a list of the top 25 NFL players of all time compiled by Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports. While elite pass rushers like Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor made the list, Smith was left off. This isn’t to say Smith deserves a spot over White or Taylor, but he certainly deserves to be mentioned alongside them.
Smith’s career stats are staggering: over 19 seasons with Buffalo and Washington, he racked up 200 sacks, 1,224 tackles, and 43 forced fumbles. He had double-digit sacks in all but six seasons, was named All-Pro eight times, and made the Pro Bowl 11 times. Smith also earned spots on both the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams. While the Bills’ offense — featuring stars like Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed — often gets the spotlight, Smith was the backbone of their defense and should not be ignored in any all-time discussion.
Looking at the present, the Bills’ current leadership — GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott — is best known for bringing quarterback Josh Allen to Buffalo. However, the 2025 offseason might end up being their most impressive one yet. After years of frustrating playoff exits, the organization decided it was time for major changes.
This offseason, Beane and his team identified key areas to improve and took action. Whether it was signing short-term veterans or making bold moves in the NFL Draft, they were aggressive in their approach. Their efforts have positioned the team for both immediate and future success.
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