Class of 2007

Bill Polian Architect of Bills Super Bowl Teams

Since entering professional football in 1978, Bill Polian not only helped build competitive football teams, but championship football teams. After working with the NFL Chiefs and the Blitz of the USFL, he built Grey Cup title teams with two CFL franchises in Montreal and Winnipeg. Polian joined the Buffalo Bills in 1984 as pro personnel director and was promoted to general manager in 1985. The 'glory years' in Buffalo football were about to begin. The Bills became competitive, and winners, compiling a mark of 58-22 from 1988 to 1992. Buffalo reached the Super Bowl in 1990, 1991, and 1992 during Polian's tenure, then added a fourth Super Bowl appearance in 1993, a year after his departure. He then built the newly-formed Carolina Panthers into the winningest expansion franchise in sports history, taking the club to the NFC Championship game in only its second season.

Since arriving in Indianapolis in 1998, no NFL team has won more regular-season games or had more overall playoff appearances than the Colts. The 2006 Colts reached the NFL pinnacle - winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive division title, posting an unbeaten home record, producing its fourth consecutive season with 12 or more wins, and winning four playoff games in claiming the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the Super Bowl.

Polian was named NFL Executive of the Year five times by The Sporting News, one of only two executives to win the award five or more times. He has been part of ten 11+ victory seasons and has won a division title at every stop.