Former Buffalo Bills WR Has Died

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Ray Jarvis, a nine-year NFL veteran whose career also included stops with the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots, has died. He was 77.

Jarvis passed away peacefully on Aug. 3 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, according to his obituary.

For Bills fans who followed the team during the early 1970s, his name may not immediately jump off the page the way O.J. Simpson’s does, yet he was part of the roster during one of the more memorable seasons in franchise history.

In 1973, Jarvis appeared in 12 games for Buffalo after spending his first two professional seasons with the Falcons. His statistical contribution that year was modest—one reception for 12 yards—but he also contributed on special teams with five kickoff returns totaling 84 yards.

That season marked the opening of Rich Stadium and the year Simpson became the first running back in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards. Jarvis suited up alongside a group that included receivers Bob Chandler and J.D. Hill as the Bills finished 9-5 and began to establish themselves as a more competitive club after years of struggle.

Born Leon Raeminton Jarvis on Feb. 2, 1949, in Chesapeake, Virginia, he arrived in the NFL after a standout college career at Norfolk State University.

From 1967 to 1970, he developed into one of the program’s most productive receivers, finishing with 2,211 career receiving yards—still fourth in school history—and setting a single-season mark of 30.8 yards per catch in 1970. The Falcons selected him in the fifth round of the 1971 draft.

After his brief time in Buffalo, Jarvis found his most productive stretch with the Lions. He led Detroit in receiving yards in both 1975 and 1976, posting career-best numbers of 39 catches for 822 yards and five touchdowns in the latter season.

He closed out his playing days with the Patriots in 1979. Over nine seasons he finished with 104 receptions for 1,832 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2023, Norfolk State inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing the lasting impact of his college production. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, five siblings and extended family.

While Jarvis’ time in Buffalo was short and his receiving numbers limited, he remains part of the fabric of that 1973 team—a group that helped shift the franchise’s trajectory and gave fans reason to believe better days were ahead.

His passing is a reminder of the many players who contributed to the Bills’ story, even if only for a single season.