When
Bill Polian was promoted to general manager of the Buffalo Bills on Dec.
30, 1985, the Bills were suffering from back to back 2-14 seasons and fan
interest was at an all-time low. Polian had been with the Bills since August
2, 1984. He was originally hired as director of pro personal. On February
7, 1985, Bills general manager Terry Bledsoe suffered a heart attack and
Polian was named along with, director of scouting, Norm Pollom, to handle
contract negotiations in Bledsoe's absence. Polian was instrumental in
the signing of Bruce Smith to his first NFL contract. This impressed the
Bills' hierarchy enough to warrant a promotion to GM, after the firing
of Bledsoe, in 1985. The fans were not impressed with the promotion of
Polian however. Most observers considered the move business as usual, on
a 2-14 team.
Polian stated in his first press conference, "I
know the NFL well, I know it's players, I think I'm prepared for the job."
His statement proved to be true. Polian proceeded to build an NFL powerhouse.
In 1986, Polian got USFL star Jim Kelly to finally come to Buffalo. He
next hired Marv Levy to replace Hank Bullough as head coach. In the
1987 draft, Polian's skill as a GM was apparent as he "traded down" from
the #3 slot in the first round to the #8 slot (linebacker Shane Conlon)
and also aquiring the #36 slot, which was traded up with Tampa to select
cornerback Nate Oddoms. On October 31, 1987, Polian orchestrated one of
the biggest trades in Bills history by acquiring linebacker Cornelius Bennett.
In 1988, without the luxury of a first round pick, Polian drafted running
back Thurman Thomas in the second round. Polian had expertly put the pieces
together that would make the Bills a "championship caliber team," appearing
in an NFL record, 4 straight Super Bowls. Because of his accomplishments,
Bill Polian won the NFL Executive of the Year Award twice, in 1988
and in 1991.
On February 4, 1993, after the Bills had appeared
in their 3rd straight Super Bowl, Bill Polian was fired as general manager.
Polian wasn't fired because he wasn't doing a good job, he was fired because
he didn't get along with treasurer, Jeff Littmann, for reasons unknown
to all except those close to owner Ralph Wilson, Littmann and Polian himself.
In his closing press conference, Bill Polian said of the team that he built, "They're a very special group of men. Cherish them, you will not see their like again."
Bill Polian is currently serving as general manager
of the Carolina Panthers were he won his third NFL Executive of the Year
Award after the 1996 season, in which the 2nd year Panthers came one game
away from the Super Bowl.
In 1997, Bill Polian moved on to another new challange when he became president and general manager of the Inianapolis Colts. Because of his record of turning losers into winners, Polian was an easy hire for Colts owner, Robert Irsay, who has suffered through numerous losing seasons. The fact that the Colts play in the AFC East, Bills fans will be keeping closer tabs on what Bill Polian is doing now, more than ever.