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Buffalo Bills: Top 5 Linebackers in Franchise History

By Paul Taylor

Buffalo Bills linebacker London Fletcher-Baker looks into the backfield prior to a play in a game against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on September 24, 2006. New York won the game 28-20. (Photo by Mark Konezny/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Buffalo Bills linebacker London Fletcher-Baker looks into the backfield prior to a play in a game against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on September 24, 2006. New York won the game 28-20. (Photo by Mark Konezny/NFLPhotoLibrary) /
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Buffalo Bills
12 Nov 1995: Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Phil Hansen (left) and linebacker Bryce Paup celebrate during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Alls /

5) Bryce Paup

Selected: Sixth round in 1990 (159th overall)

Played: 11 seasons, including three with the Bills

Career stats: 545 tackles, 75.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries

Career highlights: 4-time Pro Bowler, 1-time All Pro, 1-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1-time NFL sack leader

Some might argue against the inclusion of Bryce Paup, who only played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and that’s entirely understandable. However, even though his stay in Western New York was short, he made a tremendous impact.

Paup signed with the Bills, after playing the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Green Bacy Packers. Right from the word go in Buffalo, he left his imprint on the franchise.

During his first year with the Bills in 1995, the Jefferson, Iowa native led the league with 17.5 sacks which, as per Pro Football Reference, was the fourth-highest single-season total in the 1990s. He was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Pro, while also being named to the Pro Bowl.

Paup went to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Bills, racking up 33 sacks, 166 tackles, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the process. He played three more years with the Jacksonvile Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings, but his influence was nothing compared to the one he had in Buffalo.

As a result of what he achieved, the 49-year old was named one of the Buffalo Bills’ top 50 players in team history, while NFL Total Access listed him as one of the top-10 free agents of all-time. Not too bad for a player who had to wait until the sixth round of the 1990 draft to be selected.

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