Biography
Jack Kemp was an American football quarterback born on July 13, 1935, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Occidental College, where he showcased his athletic talent before being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1957 NFL Draft. However, Kemp began his professional career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Calgary Stampeders, where he quickly gained recognition for his skills and leadership on the field.
Transferring to the NFL, Kemp played for several teams, most notably the Buffalo Bills, where he became a key figure in the team’s success in the 1960s. He was a four-time AFL All-Star and led the Bills to two consecutive AFL championships in 1964 and 1965, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. Kemp's contributions to the game also extended beyond his playing career, as he became a prominent advocate for players' rights and initiatives to secure better benefits for former players.
After retiring from professional football, Kemp transitioned into a career in politics, serving as a U.S. Congressman from New York and later as the Republican Party’s nominee for Vice President in 1996. His legacy includes his considerable impact on both sports and politics, where he was known for his vision of a more equitable society. Kemp was posthumously inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in recognition of his significant contributions to the franchise and the game of football.