Through 2008 , all but one of the Hall of Fame members have played some part of their professional career in the NFL ( the only how did not is Buffalo Bills guard Billy Shaw , who played his whole career in the American Football League ( AFL ) before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger ) . Through 2010 , all but one of the player inductees played some part of their pro career in the NFL ( the lone exception is Buffalo Bills guard Billy Shaw , who played his entire career in the American Football League ( AFL ) prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL merger ) .