Age: 24
(Sept. 20)
2nd
season in pro football & with Bills
College: Boston
Univ.
Height: 6’0” Weight: 211
Prelude:
Byrd was an
outstanding runner, pass receiver, and kick returner in college in addition to
his play on defense. He was chosen by the Bills in the fourth round of the 1964
AFL draft and immediately moved into the starting lineup, intercepting 7
passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He received second-team
All-AFL honors from the NEA and was chosen to the AFL All-Star Game while the
Bills won the AFL Championship.
1965 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 5 [9, tied with six others]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at Oakland 11/14
Int. return
yards – 119 [5]
Most int.
return yards, game – 66 (on 2 int.) at Oakland 11/14
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 22 [3]
Yards – 220 [4]
Most yards,
game – 42 (on 3 ret.) at San Diego 11/25
Average per
return – 10.0 [4]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 30 yards
Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship at San Diego)
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 24
TDs – 0
Punt returns
– 3
Punt return
yards – 87
TDs – 1
Longest
return – 74 yards
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-AFL: League, AP, NY Daily News
2nd
team All-AFL: UPI
AFL All-Star
Game
Bills went 10-3-1
to finish first in the AFL Eastern Division while leading the league in
interceptions (32) and fewest points allowed (226). Won AFL Championship over
San Diego Chargers (23-0).
Aftermath:
Byrd followed
up with another outstanding season in 1966, intercepting six passes, returning
one for a touchdown, and averaging 8.1 yards on his 23 punt returns that also
included a TD. He played another four years for the Bills and continued to perform
at a high level, even as the team’s record dropped off. He was named to two
more AFL All-Star Games, was a consensus first-team All-AFL choice in 1969 and
a second-team selection in ’68. After starting 143 consecutive games through
1970, he was dealt to Denver just prior to the ’71 season, his last. Overall,
Byrd intercepted 40 passes for 666 yards, all with Buffalo and both team records,
and returned five of them for touchdowns. He also returned 86 punts for a 7.0
average and one TD, with another score on a punt return in the postseason. Byrd
was a consensus All-AFL first-team choice three times and was named to five AFL
All-Star Games.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
