Buffalo Bills hero dies three days before his birthday as his team pays emotional tribute

The Buffalo Bills are mourning the loss of one of the key pieces on their two-time AFL Championship-winning teams in the mid-1960s.

Stew Barber, a starting left tackle who won back-to-back league titles in 1964 and 1965, passed away last week.

Barber had enjoyed his retirement from the league in South Carolina and died surrounded by his family at the age of 86 last Wednesday. He would have turned 87 last Saturday.

Barber was a native of Pennsylvania and began playing the sport of football at a young age.

After breaking his own father's high school record in the shot put, Barber received full scholarships to play basketball and football at Penn State. He played on both sides of the line in college.

Barber graduated in 1961 and was selected in both the NFL and the AFL Drafts that season.

The Dallas Cowboys selected him 30th overall in the third round of that year's draft, while the Bills took him 25th overall in the fourth round.

Faced with a decision, Barber picked Buffalo in order to stay closer to home.

After spending his rookie season at outside linebacker - tallying three interceptions, including a pick six - Barber was moved to offensive tackle for 1962.

He'd remain there for the rest of the decade - protecting Bills quarterback Jack Kemp en route to two AFL titles.

Barber earned five AFL All-Star selections and two All-AFL First Team selections.

When the AFL-NFL merger happened in 1970, Barber was named to the second-team on the AFL All-Time Team. 

But Barber never played in the NFL, retiring in 1969. He transitioned to the Bills' front office - beginning as a college scout before rising through the ranks and becoming assistant general manager and vice president.

He retired in 1983 and lived out his final days in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Barber is survived by his wife Vicki, three daughters, and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.