Is Cole Kelley Related to Jim Kelly? Are They Related?
by A Maria
Updated May 22, 2023
Who is Cole Kelley?
Cole Kelley, born on October 27, 1997, is an American football quarterback currently playing for the Memphis Showboats in the United States Football League (USFL). He had a collegiate football career at Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana before transitioning to professional football. In 2022, Kelley signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2022 but was released prior to the season.
Kelley's impressive abilities led to an invitation to participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl held in January 2022. His exceptional performance during the game resulted in him being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), further solidifying his status as a standout player. Overall, Kelley's journey from high school to college and his numerous accolades demonstrate his remarkable talent and contributions to the world of football.
Name
Cole Kelley
DOB
October 27, 1997
Age
25
Place of birth
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
Height
6 ft 7 in
Weight
113 kg
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Is Cole Kelley related to Jim Kelly?
There is no known familial connection between Cole Kelley and Jim Kelly. Cole Kelley is a talented quarterback who has played for Southeastern Louisiana at the collegiate level. In contrast, Jim Kelly is a former professional quarterback renowned for his tenure with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Although they share the same last name, there is no evidence to suggest any familial ties between the two individuals.
Jim Kelly achieved great success during his career, leading the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. He is celebrated for his resilience and fast-paced style of play. Meanwhile, Cole Kelley is a promising young quarterback who has garnered attention for his athletic abilities and potential in the NFL. Currently, it appears that their connection is limited to their shared passion for football rather than any blood relationship.
Who is Jim Kelly?
James Edward Kelly, born on February 14, 1960, is a former American professional football player who had a successful career as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Prior to his NFL career, Kelly also played for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons. Kelly attended the University of Miami, where he played college football and showcased his skills as a quarterback.
In the 1981 Peach Bowl, he earned the title of Offensive MVP for his outstanding performance. Alongside his notable teammates Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, Kelly holds the distinction of having his jersey number retired by the Buffalo Bills. This recognition reflects his significant contributions to the team and the sport. In 2002, Kelly's remarkable achievements and impact on the game led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Name
Jim Kelly
DOB
February 14, 1960
Age
63
Place of birth
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height
6 ft 3 in
Weight
98 kg
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Cole Kelley Career
Kelley, a talented athlete, excelled in football and basketball during his time at Teurlings Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. Recognizing his potential, the University of Arkansas recruited him as a four-star player in 2016. In his first year as a redshirt freshman in 2017, he showcased his skills by starting in four games. The following year, he started in two games before deciding to transfer to Southeastern Louisiana University in 2019.
Kelley's hard work and dedication paid off when he was awarded the prestigious Walter Payton Award for the 2020-21 FCS season. This esteemed honor is given to the top offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). His exceptional performances also earned him first-team All-American FCS recognition in both 2020 and 2021, highlighting his consistent excellence on the field.
Jim Kelly Career
Due to quarterback John Elway's widely publicized reluctance to play for the Baltimore Colts, who had selected him in the 1983 NFL Draft, Jim Kelly's agent inquired about teams he would not consider playing for. Kelly, who had a distaste for cold weather, provided a list that included the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. While watching the 1983 draft on television, Kelly was relieved to see that the Bills did not choose him with the 12th pick in the first round.
However, he soon discovered from his agent that the Bills had another first-round pick and had indeed selected him as the 14th pick. Initially, Kelly had claimed to expect the Bills to choose him, but he later admitted, "You have to say those things... I cried. (Laughs) I didn't really literally cry. I just had tears. I'm like, 'You got to be kidding me.'"
Despite Kelly's belief that team owner Ralph Wilson would not assemble the right players to build a championship team, he reluctantly accepted the opportunity to play for the Bills. During contract negotiations with the team, a Bills secretary mistakenly allowed Bruce Allen, the general manager of the rival United States Football League's Chicago Blitz, to speak to Kelly on the phone. Allen convinced Kelly to abandon the meeting, and Kelly later claimed that the USFL had offered him the freedom to choose any team due to their interest in signing talented quarterbacks.
Ultimately, Kelly signed with the Houston Gamblers, a team that played in the climate-controlled Houston Astrodome, and rhetorically asked, "Would you rather be in Houston or Buffalo?" During his two seasons in Houston, Kelly thrived in the run-and-shoot offense implemented by offensive coach Mouse Davis. He amassed impressive statistics, throwing for 9,842 yards, 83 touchdowns, and 45 interceptions, completing 63% of his passes with an average of 8.53 yards per attempt. In 1984, he earned the title of USFL Most Valuable Player, setting a league record with 5,219 passing yards and 44 touchdown passes.
Kelly's records in the USFL surpassed those of other prominent quarterbacks in the league, such as Doug Williams and Steve Young. When the Houston Gamblers folded, Kelly joined the New Jersey Generals and was set to become their starting quarterback. He even appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated while holding a Generals' helmet. However, the league collapsed before Kelly had the opportunity to take a single snap with the Generals.
Is Cole Kelley related to Jim Kelly - FAQs
No, there is no known familial connection between Cole Kelley and Jim Kelly. They share the same last name but there is no evidence to suggest any blood relationship between the two individuals.
Cole Kelley is a talented quarterback who played for Southeastern Louisiana at the collegiate level. He has garnered attention for his athletic abilities and potential in the NFL.
Jim Kelly is a former professional quarterback who is renowned for his tenure with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. He achieved great success during his career, leading the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. He is celebrated for his resilience and fast-paced style of play.
While both Cole Kelley and Jim Kelly are quarterbacks with the same last name, the main difference lies in their careers and achievements. Jim Kelly is a former professional quarterback who achieved great success in the NFL, leading the Buffalo Bills to multiple Super Bowl appearances. On the other hand, Cole Kelley is a promising young quarterback who has played at the collegiate level and is gaining attention for his athletic abilities and potential in the NFL.
No, there is no evidence to suggest any familial ties between Cole Kelley and Jim Kelly. Although they share the same last name, their connection is limited to their shared passion for football rather than any blood relationship.