The quarterback is the leader of a football team, often called the field general. He must be tough and able to make split-second decisions as the coach of the field. This description fits Jim Kelly, one of the most successful quarterbacks in National Football League (NFL) history. He has led his team, the Buffalo Bills, to five division titles and an NFL record four straight Super Bowl games (1991-94). But despite their regular season and playoff success, the Bills have lost all four Super Bowl games, leaving Kelly's ultimate goal--an NFL championship--just out of reach.

James Edward Kelly was born February 14, 1960, in East Brady, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The area in which he grew up is famous for producing star quarterbacks, like Hall-of-Famers Johnny Unitas, George Blanda, Joe Namath (Kelly's idol), and future Hall-of-Famers Joe Montana of the Kansas City Chiefs and Dan Marino of the...