Cancer-free Kelly now battling MRSA infection

Jim Kelly is now battling an MRSA infection. (USATSI)

Jim Kelly has successfully fought off cancer, but now he's in another battle. The Hall of Fame quarterback revealed to the Miami Herald this week that he's battling a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.

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Kelly, who was declared cancer-free in September, still has to get a bi-monthly MRI and that's where he found out that he was battling a serious infection.

"I came down with MRSA," Kelly said. "I was cleared in September of the cancer -- I have another MRI in two weeks. The toughest part for me was I was almost ready to take out my feeding tube, I was feeling good and they said they need to do some biopsies. Those 12 biopsies put me back so far."

The eight-week treatment plan for Kelly's MRSA involves taking intravenous antibiotics three times a day.

The Hall of Fame quarterback was originally diagnosed with cancer in June 2013. After undergoing a surgery where he had part of his jaw bone removed, Kelly was believed to be cancer-free three weeks after being diagnosed.

The cancer returned in March 2014 and Kelly underwent both chemotherapy and radiation treatment over a five month period before being told by his doctors in August that he was cancer free. A biopsy in September eventually confirmed that news.

The former Bills quarterback was healthy enough on Saturday to attend the Miami Hurricanes' game against North Carolina where Kelly served as an honorary captain before the team's homecoming game.