Important Dates in Bills History, presented by M&T Bank, helps fans recognize what’s important. In the NFL, honoring standout performances is important and on Dec. 28, 1987 Bills rookie LB Shane Conlan was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associate Press.
Shane Conlan, a 6-3, 235-pound Penn State product, was selected by the Bills with the No. 8 overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. The Bills traded down from the No. 3 overall pick to secure Conlan and the Western New York native made an immediate impact on the field.