Don Hutson

• Green Bay Packers (1935-1945)

Donald Montgomery "Don" Hutson ( born January 31, 1913 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA, † June 26, 1997 in Rancho Mirage, California), an American football player and coach was in the National Football League ( NFL). He was the first wide receiver NFL history, which was mainly used for catching passes and was able to achieve the more than 1,000 yards in a season with extra space pass catches. His record of 99 touchdowns caught during a career was not until 44 years later broken by Steve Largent.

Playing career

College career

Hutson attended in his hometown high school and then studied from 1932 to 1934 at the University of Alabama. In addition to American football, he ran as a sprinter and athletics erlief the 100 yards distance in 9.8 seconds. American football was at this time a running game oriented sport. Pass catches were the exception and wide receiver were often used to freizublocken the running backs the way into the end zone of the opponent and had to play in defense. Hutson was indeed 182 cm body size big enough for a football career, but his body weight spoke of about 72 kg, which he later increased to about 79 kg more to a career in football sports. Hutson had therefore difficult to find the football team his college connection, and only received in late 1933 use time as a starter. In 1934 he achieved the final breakthrough. In the Rose Bowl this year played his team against the Stanford University and won with 29:13. Hutson caught two touchdown passes and scored a space gain 165 yards on six catches pass. In 1934 he was also selected to the All American.

Professional career

Many professional trainers held Hutson, who possessed an extraordinary quickness and good hands catching, too light to stand up to tough opponents. At the beginning of his professional career, he was 84 kg heavy. The interest in an undertaking was therefore initially not large. He received two contract offers from the Green Bay Packers and the Brooklyn Dodgers, and signed both. The managing director of the NFL therefore decided that the club is awarded the contract, the contract should go earlier in the NFL. Since both contracts were received on the same day, counted the time and date of the postmark. The letter was postmarked the Packers 17 minutes before the letter of the Dodgers, the team from Green Bay could accrue with Hutson.

Hutson received a salary of $ 175 per game in the first game year. His head coach, Curly Lambeau, put him in his first season as a starter. His first play was a complete success. He caught a pass from quarterback Arnie Herber, ran through this misconduct Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears and scored after 83 yards space gain a touchdown. In his rookie season, Hutson set several Saison. He was followed in the next few years many other bests and 1942 could achieve the first player NFL history with 1211 yards over 1000 yards space thanks to pass catches. Since it was also used as a safety, also reach him during his career for 30 interceptions. In the same year he scored 17 touchdown passes in 11 games. Until 1984 this was league record. Mark Clayton of the Miami Dolphins caught 18 passes this year, but also had 14 games for it had time.

The Packers were an elite team in the NFL, which had numerous choices for players like Herber, the running back John McNally, the Centre George Svendsen or Guard Russ Letlow in the ranks during the career of Hutson. 1936 the Packers were able to move into the NFL playoff and beat the Boston Redskins with 21:6. On pass from Arnie Herber Hutson scored a touchdown in the victory. In the years 1939 and 1944 was followed by other titles profits. In 1939, the New York Giants were defeated with 27:0, 14:7, 1944, she moved into a defeat against the Giants. Hutson contributed as a placekicker at two points after touchdown for the victory of his team and was able to catch two passes to a room gain of 47 yards. Two more playoff appearances the Packers in 1938 and 1941 both ended with defeat of the team. 1945 referred Hutson, which is great for conditions at that time sum of $ 15,000 salary per year. After eleven years as a professional player Hutson ended his career as a professional player.

Football coach

In 1944 assisted Hutson Curly Lambeau. In 1948, he ended his coaching career in Green Bay.

After the NFL

Hutson was married and died in 1997 at the age of 84 years in a nursing home. He's on his in Fayette, Alabama, buried Fayette City Cemetery.

Honors

Hutson was elected 10 times to the All -Pro and played in four Pro Bowls, the final game of the best players of the season. He was twice elected to the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and is a member of the NFL 1930s All- Decade team in the NFL 75th Anniversary All- Time Team, in the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. The Packers named a hall after him. Hutson flipped the coin for admission before the Super Bowl XXII. Numerous records of Hutson have still valid today, as the touchdowns scored on average per game (99 touchdowns in 116 games equal on average 0.85 touchdowns per game). The American TV channel ESPN chose Hutson one of the best North American athletes of all time. From the magazine " The Sporting News" Hutson has been voted one of the 100 best football players of all time.