Harlon Junius Hill (May 4, 1932 – March 21, 2013)
was an American professional football end who played for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Hill played for the Chicago Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Detroit Lions. The Harlon Hill Trophy, named in his honor, is awarded annually to the nation's best NCAA Division II football player. After his playing career, he became a coach and educator.
Early life and college
Hill was born in Killen, Alabama. Following graduation from Lauderdale County High School in nearby Rogersville in 1949, he attended Florence State Teachers College, now known as the University of North Alabama. Football was just making its return to Florence State in 1949 after several years absence due to low male enrollment. Hill was a four-year letterman on the football team, while also earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. His best performance that rookie year came on October 31, 1954, against the San Francisco 49ers. Hill was a Halloween nightmare for the 49ers defense, racking up 214 receiving yards and four touchdowns,
Franchise records
's NFL off-season, Harlon Hill held at least 15 Bears franchise records, including:
- Most Receiving Yds (rookie season): 1,124 (1954)
- Most Receiving Yds (game, as a rookie): 214 (1954-10-31 @SFO)
- Most Yds/Rec (career): 20.42
- Most Yds/Rec (season): 24.98 (1954)
- Most Yds/Rec (rookie season): 24.98 (1954)
- Most Receiving TDs (career): 40
- Most Receiving TDs (game): 4 (1954-10-31 @SFO)
- Most Receiving TDs (rookie season): 12 (1954; tied with Mike Ditka)
- Most Receiving TDs (game, as a rookie): 4 (1954-10-31 @SFO)
- Most Rec Yds/Game (rookie season): 93.7 (1954)
- Most Yds from Scrimmage (game, as a rookie): 214 (1954-10-31 @SFO)
- Most 100+ yard receiving games (career): 19
- Most 100+ yard receiving games (season): 7 (1954; tied with Jeff Graham and Brandon Marshall)
- Most 100+ yard receiving games (rookie season): 7
- Most 1000+ receiving yard seasons: 2 (one of five players)
NFL career statistics
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| Bold
| Career high
|}
Regular season
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! 1954 !! CHI
| 12 || 12 || 45 || 1,124 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 25.0 || 76 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 12
|-
! 1955 !! CHI
| 12 || 12 || 42 || 789 || 18.8 || 86 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 9
|-
! 1956 !! CHI
| 12 || 12 || 47 || 1,128 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 24.0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 79 || 11
|-
! 1957 !! CHI
| 8 || 8 || 21 || 483 || 23.0 || 53 || 2
|-
! 1958 !! CHI
| 8 || 8 || 27 || 365 || 13.5 || 40 || 3
|-
! 1959 !! CHI
| 11 || 10 || 36 || 578 || 16.1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 88 || 3
|-
! 1960 !! CHI
| 12 || 2 || 5 || 98 || 19.6 || 45 || 0
|-
! 1961 !! CHI
| 14 || 8 || 3 || 51 || 17.0 || 23 || 0
|-
! rowspan="2" | 1962 !! PIT
| 7 || 6 || 7 || 101 || 14.4 || 25 || 0
|-
! DET
| 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 103 !! 78 !! 233 !! 4,717 !! 20.2 !! 88 !! 40
|}
Playoffs
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! 1956 !! CHI
| 1 || 1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 6 || 87 || 14.5 || 17 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 1 !! 1 !! 6 !! 87 !! 14.5 !! 17 !! 0
|}
Life after the NFL
Hill returned to his native Alabama when his playing days were finished. He fought a successful battle against alcoholism Hill retired from the Lauderdale County, Alabama, school system and resided in Alabama until his death. Hill died March 21, 2013, at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Alabama, following a prolonged illness.