He
has caught more passes than any other tight end in NFL history and he stands
3rd on the Bills all-time list of pass receptions, with 302. He came to
the Bills without much fanfaire in a trade with Seattle on August 20, 1985,
for Bills wide receiver, Byron Franklin. He wasn't really expected to make
an impact and didn't in his first year with the Bills, catching only 12
passes in a 2-14 season, which saw the Bills employ 3 different starting
quarterbacks.
In 1986, with the arrival of Jim Kelly, Metzelaars became an important weapon in the Bills offensive scheme. At 6'9" tall, he was an easy target for Kelly to go to in times of trouble. Pete caught 49 passes from Kelly in 1986. Most of them over the middle when Kelly's wideouts weren't open. Fans were greatfull that the Bills had Metzelaars as a safety valve but weren't to exited about his lack of breakaway speed and big play ability. and longed for the Bills to obtain a tight end, in the Kellen Winslow mold, who possesed these abilities and would become a major weapon in the Bills offensive arsonal.
It would be this way throughout Metzelaars' career with the Bills. Tight ends would come and tight ends would go but Pete would always be there to catch a crucial 3rd down pass over the middle, to keep a Bills scoring drive alive. It wasn't his dependable pass catching abilities that endeared Metzelaars to Bills coaches however, as it was his excellent blocking, that cemented him to the Bills roster for 10 seasons. With his massive frame it was very difficult for opposing linebackers to shed a Metzelaars block, to make a tackle.
In 1993 Metzelaars would enjoy his finest season, catching 68 passes, leading the Bills that season. It was the only season he would lead the Bills in receptions. After the 1994 season, Metzelaars would leave Buffalo as a free agent and follow Frank Reich to Carolina. He would play there one season and then join the Detroit Lions, whom he played for until his retirement after 1997.