Harlon Hill

  • 3x Pro Bowl selection ( 1954-1956)
  • 3x All-Pro selection ( 1955-1957 ) 1 2 team
  • NFL Most Valuable Player Award ( 1955)
  • Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (1976 )
  • University of North Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame (1990 )
  • Chicago Bears Ring of Honor ( 2009)
  • City of Florence Walk of Honor ( 2007)

Harlon Hill Junious ( born May 5, 1935 in Killen, Alabama, † March 21, 2013 in Florence, Alabama ) was a U.S. American football player. He played end and defensive back in the National Football League ( NFL).

Playing career

College career

Harlon Hill studied from 1950 to 1953 teaching at the Florence State Teachers College. During his studies, he went on for the football team his college and was in the years 1952 and 1953 Team Captain of the team. Because of his athletic achievements, he was in 1953 elected to the All- American. Since his team acted in a unterklassigen College Football, he was not particularly noticed the scouts of the NFL what a successful professional career was initially opposed.

Professional career

Due to its low visibility Hill in 1954 selected until the 15th round to 174th place of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, coached by George Halas. Even in his rookie year as a football professional, he made ​​national attention. He started this year twelve passes his quarterbacks George Blanda and Zeke Bratkowski, which he could use to touchdowns. This performance was league record. In the following year, he scored the league record with nine caught touchdowns. In 1956 takeover Paddy Driscoll, the coach of the team from Chicago. The Bears won in this round nine of twelve games and coated with this performance in the NFL playoff one. Although Harlon Hill in the final could catch six passes for a room gain of 87 yards, the New York Giants went with 47:7 win the game.

The services of Hill were becoming weaker after the season 1956, came in 1957 yet added a serious injury. Hill had problems with alcohol. In the offense of the team, he received little use of time, but it was amplified in the Defense as a defensive back for use. 1962 ended his career in Chicago, the Bears gave him from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who still sent him to just seven games in the same game year to the Detroit Lions. After an unsuccessful game year in Detroit Hill ended his career.

After playing career

Harlon Hill had already completed in 1955 during his professional time his teaching degree with a Bachelor of Education. He fought successfully his alcohol addiction. He returned to Albama and was a teacher there. In 1969 he was awarded his Master of the College. In 1986, he established the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best college football player of a team from the NCAA Division II.

Honors

Harlon Hill played three times in the Pro Bowl and was elected three times to the All- Pro. In 1955, the election to the NFL Most Valuable Player was. He is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and in the University of North Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame. The Chicago Bears honor him on the Chicago Bears Ring of Honor The city of Florence honors him on the City of Florence Walk of Honor

All-Star Florence (Alabama) Scout (Sport) NFC Championship Game
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