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Hill threw nine passes in his rookie season, with two being for interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1958 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Eventually he became a bigger role in punting, going from doing it eight combined times in his first three seasons to punting 55 times for 2,403 yards in 1961. He had his best season in rushing in 1959, where he scored five touchdowns on 39 carries for 167 yards, although it also involved a league-leading 13 fumbles. Quarterbacking the Cardinals was no better for Hill when he started. He served as the starter for ten games of the 1959 season. He started on Opening Day against Washington, going 14-of-23 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to go with a rushing touchdown in the 49–21 victory. It was the first of only two victories that season for Hill, who threw for 1,015 yards on 7 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1959 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He started the first game of the 1960 season and threw 8-of-18 for 98 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being taken out for [[John Roach (American football)|John Roach]], who threw four touchdowns in the 43–21 victory. He threw just 37 more passes that year, his last for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1960 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams - September 23rd, 1960 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196009230ram.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Hill moved to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in 1961, where he served as a backup for eight season that started 18 total games while being used mostly as a punter; his best season as a punter came in 1963 with 69 punts for 2,972 yards for a 43.1 average. He started six games as quarterback that year as well, going 1–4–1. He played with both the Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings in 1968, starting in two games for the Eagles. He closed out his career with St. Louis in 1969. He punted 73 times for 2,747 yards while seeing a punt blocked versus Philadelphia, the first and only punt blocked in his career. He threw one final pass that year, a completion for seven yards versus Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1969 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Hill threw nine passes in his rookie season, with two being for interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1958 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Eventually he became a bigger role in punting, going from doing it eight combined times in his first three seasons to punting 55 times for 2,403 yards in 1961. He had his best season in rushing in 1959, where he scored five touchdowns on 39 carries for 167 yards, although it also involved a league-leading 13 fumbles. Quarterbacking the Cardinals was no better for Hill when he started. He served as the starter for ten games of the 1959 season. He started on Opening Day against Washington, going 14-of-23 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to go with a rushing touchdown in the 49–21 victory. It was the first of only two victories that season for Hill, who threw for 1,015 yards on 7 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1959 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He started the first game of the 1960 season and threw 8-of-18 for 98 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being taken out for [[John Roach (American football)|John Roach]], who threw four touchdowns in the 43–21 victory. He threw just 37 more passes that year, his last for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1960 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams - September 23rd, 1960 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196009230ram.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Hill moved to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in 1961, where he served as a backup for eight season that started 18 total games while being used mostly as a punter; his best season as a punter came in 1963 with 69 punts for 2,972 yards for a 43.1 average. He started six games as quarterback that year as well, going 1–4–1. He played with both the Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings in 1968, starting in two games for the Eagles. He closed out his career with St. Louis in 1969. He punted 73 times for 2,747 yards while seeing a punt blocked versus Philadelphia, the first and only punt blocked in his career. He threw one final pass that year, a completion for seven yards versus Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Hill 1969 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HillKi00.htm |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>


Hill was also a key figure in the NFL Players Association.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maule |first=Tex |date=October 14, 1968 |title=Pro at the conference table |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/10/14/pro-at-the-conference-table |journal=Sports Illustrated |volume=29 |issue=16}}</ref> Hill was vice-president of the NFLPA in 1968, when the players threatened to strike, and was a public voice of the players' issues.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 28, 1968 |title=Pro gridders threaten strike |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754225/236 |work=The Michigan Daily |pages=6}}</ref> Hill signed the first collective bargaining agreement in professional football<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nix |first=J. W. |title=The Biggest Number 1 Flops in NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/463039-the-biggest-number-1-flops-in-nfl-history |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> and represented players for the Players Association for nine years during the 1968 strike.
Hill was also a key figure in the [[National Football League Players Association|NFL Players Association]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maule |first=Tex |date=October 14, 1968 |title=Pro at the conference table |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/10/14/pro-at-the-conference-table |journal=Sports Illustrated |volume=29 |issue=16}}</ref> Hill was vice-president of the NFLPA in 1968, when the players threatened to strike, and was a public voice of the players' issues.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 28, 1968 |title=Pro gridders threaten strike |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754225/236 |work=The Michigan Daily |pages=6}}</ref> Hill signed the first collective bargaining agreement in professional football<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nix |first=J. W. |title=The Biggest Number 1 Flops in NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/463039-the-biggest-number-1-flops-in-nfl-history |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> and represented players for the Players Association for nine years, including during the 1968 strike.


=== Coaching and scouting career ===
=== Coaching and scouting career ===

Revision as of 22:57, 9 January 2025

Not to be confused with King of the Hill.
This article is about the American football player. For the community in Idaho, see King Hill, Idaho.

King Hill
No. 16, 10, 15
Position:Quarterback / Punter
Personal information
Born:(1936-11-08)November 8, 1936
Hamilton, Texas, U.S.
Died:July 14, 2012(2012-07-14) (aged 75)
Spring, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Freeport (TX) Brazosport
College:Rice
NFL draft:1958 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Pass attempts:881
Pass completions:429
Percentage:48.7
TD–INT:37–71
Passing yards:5,553
Passer rating:49.3
Punts:368
Punt yards:15,181
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Record at Pro Football Reference

Stuart King Hill (November 8, 1936 – July 14, 2012) was an American professional football quarterback and punter in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings.

Early life and college football

Hill was born on November 8, 1936, in Hamilton, Texas to Earl and Dorothy Hill.[1][2] After attending Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas, where he was a multi-sport athlete, Hill went to Rice Institute in Houston, and played football under College Football Hall of Fame coach Jess Neely. He played offense, defense and punted on the Rice team. On offense, he split time as quarterback of the Owls with Frank Ryan, who also later played in the NFL.[3][4][5][6]

Hill was an AP All-American in 1957.[7] In his two years playing quarterback (1956 and 1957), Hill passed for eight touchdown and rushed for eight touchdowns, and had quarterback ratings of 118.1 and 139.3 respectively.[8]

On November 16, 1957, the Owls engineered one of the biggest victories in program history. The Owls faced number 1 ranked Texas A&M, who had not lost in 18 games, coached by Bear Bryant (who had tried to recruit Hill out of high school). Hill played the majority of the game at quarterback when Ryan sprained his knee early; served as punter on booming punts; intercepted two passes as a safety in the fourth quarter; and made a touchdown-saving tackle on John David Crow (winner of the Heisman Trophy that year) as Rice held on to win 7–6. (Ironically, Crow and Hill would become teammates in the NFL and good friends in life.[3]) Aggies coach Bear Bryant, who had always praised Hill, said, "'He did everything but take up tickets.'"[6]

It propelled the Owls to the Southwest Conference title (their last until 1994),[9] and they played in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day, where Rice lost to Navy. [10] At the end of the year, Rice was ranked eighth in the nation by the Associated Press, and number 7 by United Press International.[11] He also played on the golf team for the program, as well as the basketball team.[3][6]

Hill was inducted into the Rice Owls Hall of Fame in 1974.[12]

NFL career

Playing career

Hill was the first player selected in the 1958 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals.[13] As the Cardinals were the only team remaining who had not been awarded the "bonus pick" as determined by lottery, they had the first pick along with the second overall pick.[14] They picked Hill with the first pick (the lottery bonus pick) and John David Crow with the second in a draft that had four future Pro Bowlers in the first five picks (Hill being the exception among Crow, Dan Currie, Lou Michaels and Red Phillips).[15][13][1]

Hill threw nine passes in his rookie season, with two being for interceptions.[16] Eventually he became a bigger role in punting, going from doing it eight combined times in his first three seasons to punting 55 times for 2,403 yards in 1961. He had his best season in rushing in 1959, where he scored five touchdowns on 39 carries for 167 yards, although it also involved a league-leading 13 fumbles. Quarterbacking the Cardinals was no better for Hill when he started. He served as the starter for ten games of the 1959 season. He started on Opening Day against Washington, going 14-of-23 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to go with a rushing touchdown in the 49–21 victory. It was the first of only two victories that season for Hill, who threw for 1,015 yards on 7 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.[17] He started the first game of the 1960 season and threw 8-of-18 for 98 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being taken out for John Roach, who threw four touchdowns in the 43–21 victory. He threw just 37 more passes that year, his last for the team.[18][19] Hill moved to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961, where he served as a backup for eight season that started 18 total games while being used mostly as a punter; his best season as a punter came in 1963 with 69 punts for 2,972 yards for a 43.1 average. He started six games as quarterback that year as well, going 1–4–1. He played with both the Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings in 1968, starting in two games for the Eagles. He closed out his career with St. Louis in 1969. He punted 73 times for 2,747 yards while seeing a punt blocked versus Philadelphia, the first and only punt blocked in his career. He threw one final pass that year, a completion for seven yards versus Chicago.[20]

Hill was also a key figure in the NFL Players Association.[21][22] Hill was vice-president of the NFLPA in 1968, when the players threatened to strike, and was a public voice of the players' issues.[23] Hill signed the first collective bargaining agreement in professional football[24] and represented players for the Players Association for nine years, including during the 1968 strike.

Coaching and scouting career

Houston Oilers

In 1970, Hill became a scout for the Houston Oilers.[25] In 1972, Hill was hired to serve as an Oilers' assistant coach under Bill Peterson.[26] In 1973, he became quarterbacks coach under Peterson, who was fired during the year, and then remained in that position under new head coach Sid Gillman, staying quarterbacks coach through 1974 under Gillman.[27][28][29] In 1974, Bum Phillips was hired as the Oilers defensive coordinator and rose from defensive coordinator to head coach the following year.[30] Phillips made Hill his offensive coordinator in 1975 and 1976.[31][32] Hill worked for the team and Phillips until 1980, as receivers coach from 1977-1980 as well as quarterbacks coach in 1980, with the best days coming under Phillips.[21][33][34] Phillips had Ken Shipp as his offensive coordinator in 1977, but fired him after that year, and never replaced the offensive coordinator position. Instead, he had Hill, Andy Bourgeois and Joe Bugel run the offense together, until Phillips was fired in 1980.[35]

Phillips described Hill as such: “King was different from almost anybody I’ve ever worked with. He was the most polite, gentle man. And, [on the] football field, he was polite but direct. When he said something, he meant it. He was the ideal guy to have on your staff. [Coaching] wasn’t work to him. He really enjoyed it. He could communicate without all that hollering. You don’t need to raise your voice when you know what you’re talking about.”[21] The Oilers made the postseason each time from 1978 to 1980 (bolstered by the offense of players such as Earl Campbell[35]) but could not reach the Super Bowl.[36]

New Orleans Saints

When Phillips was fired after the 1980 season ended, Hill followed him to the New Orleans Saints, serving as Phillips' offensive coordinator from 1981 to 1985.[30][34] The 1983 team was a missed field goal away from a playoff berth, but the Saints never reached the postseason under Phillips before he resigned in 1985.[37][38][39]

Philadelphia Eagles

Hill was hired as a regional scout for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Western United States and Canada in 1986, where he served until 1992. He was described by a former Eagles' publicist as a real gentleman who everyone liked, as well as a great golfer.[40]

Golf and charities

After retiring from coaching, he became a golf-course marketing director in Houston.[3][40] Always a skilled golfer, Hill never gave up his amateur status and through the years has participated in hundreds of tournaments, as well as being an active participant in the promotion of charitable golf tournaments in Texas and Louisiana. He also assisted in the founding and working of the Ronald McDonald Houses in Texas and Louisiana. Hill also helped with Big Brothers and other children causes in Texas, including the Special Olympics. His golf team won first place in the NFL Alumni Tournament in 1995 and 2001. He placed second in the tournament in 1996.

Death

Hill died at age 75 in 2012 after a long illness.[41] He is buried at Forest Park Cemetery at The Woodlands.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "King Hill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "King Hill Obituary - The Woodlands, TX". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Robertson, Dale (July 14, 2012). "Rice legend King Hill dies at 75". CHRON.
  4. ^ "Jess Neely College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  5. ^ "Jess Neely (1971) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Legendary Owl King Hill Passes Away". Rice University Athletics. July 14, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Smith, Ted (December 5, 1957). "King Hill, John Crow on All-America". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. p. 12.
  8. ^ "King Hill College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "Southwest Conference Index". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  10. ^ "Forrestal pilots Middies over Owls, 20 to 7". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. January 2, 1958. p. 10.
  11. ^ "1958 Cotton Bowl 2". Rice University Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  12. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees". Rice University Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "1958 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  14. ^ "Hall of Famers by Draft Round | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  15. ^ "58 | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "King Hill 1958 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "King Hill 1959 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "King Hill 1960 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams - September 23rd, 1960". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "King Hill 1969 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick King Hill dies at 75". July 14, 2012.
  22. ^ Maule, Tex (October 14, 1968). "Pro at the conference table". Sports Illustrated. 29 (16).
  23. ^ "Pro gridders threaten strike". The Michigan Daily. June 28, 1968. p. 6.
  24. ^ Nix, J. W. "The Biggest Number 1 Flops in NFL History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  25. ^ "Houston Oilers 1970 Media Guide (page 13)" (PDF).
  26. ^ "1972 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  27. ^ Wallace, William N. (October 16, 1973). "Peterson Is Ousted By Oilers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  28. ^ "1973 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  29. ^ "1974 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Bum Phillips Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  31. ^ "1975 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  32. ^ "1976 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  33. ^ "1976 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  34. ^ a b "King Hill Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  35. ^ a b Wallace, William N. (January 1, 1981). "PHILLIPS IS DISCHARGED BY OILERS AFTER CONTROVERSY OVER OFFENSE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  36. ^ "Tennessee Titans Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  37. ^ "Forecast: The good, bad and weird of the Bum Phillips' Saints era". wwltv.com. October 24, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  38. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (November 26, 1985). "Bum Phillips Quits as Saints' Coach; Foge Fazio Is Fired at Pittsburgh". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  39. ^ "New Orleans Saints Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  40. ^ a b "Ex-Eagle King Hill dies at 75 (Philadelphia Daily News)". www.inquirer.com. July 16, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  41. ^ "Former Rice legend King Hill passes away". Chron. July 14, 2012.
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