From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donald Montgomery Hutson (January 31, 1913 –
June 24, 1997) was the first star wide receiver in National Football League
history. In his senior season at the University of Alabama in 1934,
Hutson was a first team All-American for
six different organizations and a second team selection by one
other. After his career at Alabama, he joined the Green Bay
Packers in 1935 and retired in 1945 after 11 seasons.
Hutson is credited with creating many of the modern pass routes used in
the NFL today. He was the dominant receiver of his day and is
widely considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL
history, holding almost all important receiving records at the time
of his retirement. As of the end of the 2007 NFL season, Hutson
still holds the following records: Most seasons leading league in
pass receptions (8), Most consecutive seasons leading league in
pass receptions (5), Most seasons leading league in pass receiving
yards gained (7), Most consecutive seasons leading league in pass
receiving yards gained (4), Most seasons leading league in pass
receiving touchdowns (9), Most consecutive seasons leading league
in pass receiving touchdowns (5), Most seasons leading league in
scoring (5), and Most consecutive seasons leading league in scoring
(5) (Source: NFL Record and fact book).
NFL
career
Wide
receiver
When he graduated from Alabama, Hutson was not highly regarded
by several NFL teams because of his thin stature. Many coaches felt
that he would not be able to handle the rigors of football, but Curly Lambeau of
the Packers saw Hutson as the perfect receiver for his passing
attack, which at the time was headed by quarterback Arnie Herber and end
Johnny "Blood"
McNally.
Before the draft existed, college players could sign with any
team they wanted, and while Hutson did sign a contract with Green
Bay, he had also signed a contract with Brooklyn, and both
contracts came to the NFL office at the same time. NFL president Joseph Carr declared
that Hutson would go to Green Bay, as the Green Bay contract had an
earlier date of signing.
Fans of the Packers received a preview of things to come in
Hutson's first game. On his first-ever play, Hutson caught an
83-yard touchdown pass from Arnie Herber. It was the first of 99
receiving touchdowns, an NFL record that would stand for 44 years
after his retirement.
Hutson became the key component to the Packers lethal offensive
attack, as the Packers won the NFL title in Hutson's second year,
1936, beating the Boston Redskins
21-6. The Packers went on to win two more titles during Hutson's
career, in 1939 and 1944. Hutson shocked the fans of Green Bay in
1945 when he announced his retirement after playing 11 seasons. He
stayed with the Packers as an assistant coach in 1946, but then
left the organization.
In an era when successful passing attacks were virtually unheard
of, Don Hutson and the Green Bay Packers flourished via the air.
Hutson held 18 major NFL records at the time of his retirement,
several of which stood for decades.
Twice, in 1941 and 1942, he was named the league’s MVP. In
1941 Hutson became the first receiver to catch more than 50 passes
in a season, and the next year he became the first with over 1,000
receiving yards in a season. In all, Hutson caught 488 passes for
7,991 yards. He rushed for three touchdowns and returned three
interceptions for touchdowns for a career total of 105. Hutson led
the NFL in receptions eight times in his 11 seasons, including five
consecutive times (1941-1945). He led the NFL in receiving yards
seven times, including four straight times from 1941-44. He led the
NFL in scoring five times (1941-45). Hutson still holds the highest
career average TDs per game (0.85) for a wide receiver.
Defense and special
teams
For many of his 11 seasons, Hutson was also the Packers' kicker. He added 172 extra points and 7 field
goals for another league record, 823 points. He led the league
in extra points made and attempted in 1941, 1942 and 1945 and in
field goals made in 1943.
As did almost all players in his day, Hutson played both offense and
defense. On defense, Hutson was a very good
safety
who intercepted 30 passes over the final six
years of his career. Hutson's highest season total was in 1943,
when he intercepted eight passes in only 10 games. In 1940, he led
the NFL with 6 interceptions.
Honors
and recognition
Hutson's number was retired by the Packers in 1951
Hutson has been honored in a variety of ways. His number 14, was
the first number retired by the Packers (in a public ceremony at a
game at City Stadium) on December 2,
1951. Hutson Street in the Packerland Industrial Park in Green Bay
is named for him, and in 1994 the Packers named their new
state-of-the-art indoor practice facility across the street from Lambeau Field the
"Don Hutson
Center". Hutson was inducted as a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
1963, and he is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of
Fame. Current and former Packer executives, such as Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf, have traditionally
referred to Hutson as the greatest player the game has known. There
is a park named after him in his hometown of Pine
Bluff, Arkansas.
In 1999, he was ranked sixth on The Sporting
News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the
highest-ranking Packer and the highest-ranking pre-World War II
player.
In 2005, the Flagstad family of Green Bay donated to the Green
Bay Packers Hall of Fame an authentic Packers #14 jersey worn by
Hutson. The jersey was found in a trunk of old uniforms in 1946 at
the Rockwood
Lodge, the Packers’ summer training camp from 1946 to 1949,
owned by Melvin and Helen Flagstad. The jersey, a rare NFL artifact
valued at over $17,000, was donated by son Daniel Flagstad in
memory of his parents.
Most sportswriters and football enthusiasts consider Jerry Rice the best
receiver [and best player] ever, but a few critics believe Hutson
could have been as good as Rice if he'd played in the same era.[1] Hutson
played in an era where the run dominated the game, the pass
interference rule favored defenses, and players played both
offense and defense. However, Hutson rarely saw the double and
triple team coverages that Rice did.
Don Hutson also tossed the ceremonial coin at Super Bowl
XXII. The Washington Redskins won the toss,
and the game.
Other end
in Rose Bowl
Bear Bryant
referred to himself as the "other end" on the University of Alabama
football team that had both Bryant and Hutson. That Crimson Tide team won
the Rose Bowl
in 1935 by beating Stanford 29-13 with Hutson catching 6
passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
References
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