Calvin Hill facts for kids
Hill with Cleveland in 1979
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 2, 1947 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Riverdale Country (The Bronx, New York) |
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| College: | Yale (1965–1968) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Calvin G. Hill (born January 2, 1947) is a former professional football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Hill played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Cleveland Browns. He also spent one season with The Hawaiians in the World Football League (WFL).
Hill was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times during his career. In 1972, he became the first running back for the Dallas Cowboys to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He achieved this amazing feat again the very next year.
In 2016, Yale University honored Hill with a special degree. They called him a "Yale legend" for his achievements.
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Early Life and Sports
Calvin Hill was born on January 2, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland. He received a scholarship to attend the Riverdale Country School in The Bronx, New York. At Riverdale, he was an amazing athlete. He excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.
He first learned organized football at Riverdale. He became the starting quarterback in his second year. From 1963 to 1965, his team was part of an eight-season winning streak. Hill was a highly praised high school football player and a top student.
College Football Career
Hill wanted to play in a big stadium with many fans. He was very impressed when he visited Yale University in 1964. He saw over 70,000 people watch Yale win a game.
At Yale, coaches first tried Hill as a linebacker on the freshman team. But after just four days, they moved him to halfback, where he stayed. Hill and quarterback Brian Dowling worked together perfectly on the field. Hill could run, and both could catch passes.
In 1968, Hill and Dowling led the Yale team to an undefeated season. Their final game was a famous 29-29 tie against Harvard. During his three years as a starter, Yale had impressive records. Hill also played tight end or linebacker in some games.
Hill was also a fast runner and jumper for the Yale track team. He still holds the school record for the outdoor triple jump. He won the Ivy League long jump and triple jump championships in 1967 and 1968. Hill finished his college football career with over 2,500 total yards. He graduated from Yale in 1969.
Professional Football Journey
Dallas Cowboys Star
The Dallas Cowboys picked Calvin Hill in the first round of the 1969 NFL draft. Some people wondered about this choice. They thought it was hard to find professional players from elite colleges like Yale.
The Cowboys first tried Hill at different positions. But he got his chance at running back during a practice game. The team needed help there because other players were injured. Hill quickly became a top player in the league. He was the best running back in the NFL for the first nine games of his rookie season.
Even with a toe injury, Hill finished his first season with 942 rushing yards. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
In 1972, after some challenges, Hill became the first running back in Cowboys history to rush for over 1,000 yards. He gained 1,036 yards that year. In 1973, he broke his own record with 1,142 rushing yards. Hill played six seasons with the Cowboys. He helped them win Super Bowl VI and two NFC titles. He made four Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro twice.
Time with Other Teams
In 1975, Hill played three games for The Hawaiians in the World Football League. He rushed for 218 yards before getting injured. When that league stopped, he returned to the NFL.
In 1976, Hill joined the Washington Redskins. He played two seasons as a backup running back. He rushed for 558 yards and caught 25 passes. He then announced his retirement in 1978.
However, the Cleveland Browns convinced him to return to football. He signed with them in September 1978. He played four more seasons, mostly as a third-down running back. He retired for good after the 1981 season.
Calvin Hill played in the NFL for 12 seasons. He had a total of 6,083 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns. He also gained 2,861 receiving yards and scored 23 receiving touchdowns.
Life After Football
Calvin Hill's wife, Janet, went to Wellesley College. She was friends with Hillary Rodham Clinton there. Calvin and Janet are the parents of retired NBA player Grant Hill. It's pretty cool that Calvin was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1969, and 26 years later, his son Grant shared the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1995!
After his playing career, Hill worked in baseball. In 1987, he joined the board of directors for the Baltimore Orioles. He later became their vice president for personnel until 1994.
Today, Hill serves on the boards of several organizations. He also works as a speaker, sharing inspiring messages. He is a consultant for the Dallas Cowboys, helping players with various challenges. He also advises the Cleveland Browns Football Club. Hill has written articles about sports and education. He often visits universities and businesses to talk about important topics. He emphasizes the strong connection between sports and learning.
A special place called the Calvin Hill Day Care Center in New Haven is named in his honor. It was started in 1970 by students, including Kurt Schmoke. This center helps families from Yale University with childcare. On May 23, 2016, Yale University gave Calvin Hill an honorary doctorate degree.
