Bill Hudson (American football) facts for kids
| No. 79, 61 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | July 9, 1935 Hartsville, South Carolina, U.S. |
||||||||
| Died: | December 13, 2017 (aged 82) Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. |
||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | North Charleston (SC) | ||||||||
| College: | Clemson | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1957 / Round: 3 / Pick: 34 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
William Alex Hudson (July 9, 1935 – December 13, 2017) was an American football player. He played as a defensive tackle, a strong player who tries to stop the opposing team's offense. Bill Hudson was a key part of a famous group of defensive players called the "Fearsome Foursome."
He went to Clemson University, where he played both football and ran track. After college, he played professional football. He played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes. Then, he played in the American Football League (AFL) for the San Diego Chargers and the Boston Patriots. Bill Hudson is a member of the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. His older brother, Bob Hudson, also played professional football.
The Original 'Fearsome Foursome'
Bill Hudson was first chosen by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1957 NFL draft. However, he decided to play for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He got more money there. He played with the Alouettes for three seasons. Sometimes, he even played both offense and defense.
Later, a coach named Al Davis learned that Hudson was not happy. Davis convinced him to join the new American Football League (AFL). Hudson became the captain of the San Diego Chargers' defense in 1961 and 1962.
A Powerful Defensive Line
On the Chargers, Bill Hudson played with other great players. These included Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison, and Ron Nery. Together, they formed a very strong defensive line. They were so powerful that people started calling them the "Fearsome Foursome." There was even a song made about them called "The Fearsome Foursome Stomp."
Years later, another team, the Los Angeles Rams, had a famous group with the same name. But the Chargers' "Fearsome Foursome" was the original one.
Bill Hudson was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed about 270 pounds. He was excellent at stopping players who tried to run with the ball. He was also strong and smart enough to rush the quarterback. In 1961, his first year in the AFL, he made four sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback. He also caught one interception and ran it back for a touchdown.
Because of the "Fearsome Foursome," the Chargers had an amazing season in 1961. They caught a league record of 49 interceptions. This helped them win their division title. Bill Hudson and Earl Faison were chosen as All-Stars that season.
Life After Playing Football
After the 1962 season, Bill Hudson was traded to the Boston Patriots. He played in four games with them before he stopped playing football.
After his playing career, he worked for 17 years as a scout. He helped find new players for Al Davis, who had become the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
Bill Hudson passed away on December 13, 2017. He was 82 years old. He died in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was survived by his wife, Lillian, their three children, six grandchildren, and two brothers.
