Kemp began his professional football career in 1957 when he was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 17th round of the NFL Draft. After three NFL seasons with Pittsburgh and the New York Giants, Kemp signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles (later San Diego) Chargers of the AFL. In two seasons with the Chargers, Kemp was named to two AFL All-Star Games and played in the AFL Championship Game in 1960 and 1961. In 1962, Kemp joined the Buffalo Bills and led the team to consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965 and is in the Bills Hall of Fame. He co-founded the American Football League Players Association in the 1960s and was elected president of the association five times. After his football career, Kemp represented the Buffalo area and western New York for 18 years in the United States House of Representatives from 1971-89. President GEORGE H. W. BUSH selected Kemp to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1989. Kemp received the Republican Party's nomination for Vice President of the United States in August of 1996.