Joe Ferguson

#12 · Buffalo Bills

Retired 16 Years In The NFL

🏆 NFL passing yards leader (1977)

Joe's

HAIR

31.0

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Joe Ferguson or the Bills?

Joe Ferguson Legacy

HEYTC AI

Joe Ferguson was the Arkansas Rifle, Buffalo's gunslinger who slung it deep for 12 loyal years with the Bills, turning Rich Stadium into a launchpad for glory amid the lean times. Cool under fire, he torched the Dolphins' dynasty with five TD bombs in Dan Marino's debut—spoiling the rookie's party in OT for Buffalo's first Miami win since '66—and rallied Monday Night magic against the Raiders with late daggers. Hobbled by a sprained ankle in that '81 playoff heartbreaker at San Diego, he still etched grit into Bills lore, embodying the quiet warrior who always tried, leaving as the franchise's all-time passing king.

Joe Ferguson Rating Breakdown

Season

Subpar

Fantasy

Average

Playoffs

Subpar

Overall

Delulu

12 years with the Bills

Joe Ferguson Career Stats via Wikipedia

29,817 Pass Yards

196 Touchdowns

209 INTs

52.4% Comp %

31.0 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Joe Ferguson

How does Josh Allen compare to Joe Ferguson?

Joe Ferguson laid the Bills' early foundation with 29,817 yards and 196 TDs over 12 seasons in Buffalo, grinding through O.J. Simpson's rushing era before the pass-happy '80s hit. Josh Allen's still scripting his epic, blending Ferguson's arm with legs that terrify defenses—think Ferguson with a Ferrari chassis. Both bleed Bills blue, but Allen's chasing four rings while Joe's legend sits etched in Rich Stadium lore.

Is Joe Ferguson in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Joe Ferguson's not in Canton—no bust for the guy who slung it 4,519 times for 29,817 yards and 196 TDs across 17 seasons. He was a Bills ironman with 107 straight starts at one point, topping NFL lists in attempts and TDs multiple times, but 209 picks and no Super Bowl shine kept Hall voters at bay. Deserving? That's barroom debate fuel.

What is Joe Ferguson doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Joe Ferguson's chilling in retirement after that 17-year grind, no splashy gigs in broadcasting or business popping up lately. The '73 third-rounder who owned Buffalo's passing records through the '80s now savors grandfather duties and Bills alumni events, like his 1995 Wall of Fame nod. Quiet life suits the guy who once aired it out 55 times in a game.

How would Joe Ferguson perform in today's NFL?

Ferguson's live-arm cannon—peaking at 3,652 yards and 24 TDs in '81—would feast under today's no-roughing rules and spread offenses. That 52% completion and 68.4 rating? Modern coaching polishes it to 65% with quick releases, RPOs suiting his mobility (1,217 rush yards career). He'd be a savvy vet like a '70s version of Geno Smith, carving up zones for 4,000-yard seasons.

How does Joe Ferguson compare to Jim Kelly?

Joe Ferguson held the Bills fort for 12 years, leading the league in TDs six times with an 8.54 Y/A despite 209 picks in a brutal era. Jim Kelly turbocharged it to 49.97 Y/A with rings nearly in reach, turning shotgun magic into AFC terror. Ferguson was the pickup truck starter; Kelly the Ferrari—both franchise blood, but Kelly's flair lands him higher on HeyTC's All-Time QB rankings.