Ike Hilliard facts for kids
Hilliard with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008
|
|||||||
| Atlanta Falcons | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receivers coach | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | April 5, 1976 Patterson, Louisiana, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Patterson | ||||||
| College: | Florida (1994–1996) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| As player: | |||||||
|
|||||||
| As coach: | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Isaac Jason Hilliard (born April 5, 1976) is an American football coach. He used to be a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Today, he is the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He played most of his career with the New York Giants.
Ike Hilliard played college football for the Florida Gators. He was recognized as an All-American in 1996. The New York Giants picked him seventh overall in the 1997 NFL draft. Hilliard also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he stopped playing in 2008.
Contents
Ike Hilliard's Early Life
Ike Hilliard was born in Patterson, Louisiana in 1976. He went to Patterson High School. There, he was a great high school football player for the Patterson Lumberjacks. In his last year, he played quarterback, wingback, and free safety. He ran for 737 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns. He made 45 tackles and caught five interceptions. Even though he was a top defensive back, he really wanted to play wide receiver.
College Football Career
Hilliard received a scholarship to the University of Florida. He played wide receiver for the Florida Gators football team from 1994 to 1996. He had never played this position before. During his three years, the Gators won three SEC Championships. These wins were in 1994, 1995, and 1996.
In 1996, as a junior, he and fellow receiver Reidel Anthony both gained over 1,000 receiving yards. Both Hilliard and Anthony were named first-team All-Southeastern Conference players. They were also recognized as first-team All-Americans. The Gators won their first national football title that year. Hilliard was a semi-finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 1996.
The Gators finished the 1996 season with a 12–1 record. They beat the Florida State Seminoles 52–20 in the 1997 Sugar Bowl. Hilliard played amazingly in this game. He set three Sugar Bowl records at the time. He had 150 receiving yards, including an 82-yard touchdown catch. He scored three touchdowns in total, earning eighteen points.
Hilliard was honored in the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame. In 1995, he caught five passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia. The Gators won that game 52–17. In 2009, he was added to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Hilliard was named an SEC Legend in 2011. He was also chosen for the Florida Football All-Century Team in 1999. In 2006, he was selected for the 100th-Anniversary Florida team.
Hilliard decided to enter the NFL draft after his junior year. He finished his college career with 126 receptions. He had 2,214 receiving yards and twenty-nine touchdowns. In 2006, he was ranked No. 14 among the top 100 Gator players from the first century of Florida football.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the New York Giants
The New York Giants chose Hilliard in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was the seventh player picked overall. He played his first eight seasons with the Giants, from 1997 to 2004. He became a regular starter in 1998. He helped the Giants beat the Minnesota Vikings 41–0 in the 2000 NFC Championship Game. In that game, he caught 10 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. This helped his team reach Super Bowl XXXV.
Hilliard faced many injuries during his time with the Giants. In his second game as a rookie, he hurt his spine. He had surgery and recovered. In 1998, he received the Ed Block Courage Award. This award is given to players who show inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Even with injuries, he continued to play hard.
With the Giants, Hilliard had 368 receptions for 4,630 receiving yards. He also scored 27 touchdowns. He is seventh in the Giants' history for receptions and tenth for receiving yards. He officially retired as a Giant on July 30, 2010.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On May 6, 2005, Hilliard signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first two seasons, he was a third or fourth receiver. In 2007, he started ten games and caught 62 passes for 722 yards. With the Buccaneers, he became known for making catches on third down. His coach, Jon Gruden, even called him "Third and Ike."
On October 19, 2008, Hilliard was hit hard during a game against the Seattle Seahawks. He refused to be taken off the field on a cart.
After four seasons, the Buccaneers released Hilliard on February 25, 2009. He was one of five experienced players released that day.
In his twelve-season NFL career, Hilliard played in 161 regular-season games. He started 105 of them. He made 546 catches for 6,397 yards and thirty-five touchdowns. He also ran for 126 yards.
Ike Hilliard's Coaching Career
Florida Tuskers
After his playing career ended due to injuries, Hilliard became a volunteer coach. He coached receivers for the UFL's Florida Tuskers in 2009. In 2010, he became their official wide receivers coach. The Tuskers played in the first two UFL championship games.
Miami Dolphins
In 2011, Hilliard returned to the NFL. He became an assistant wide receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins. He helped players like Brandon Marshall and Brian Hartline.
Washington Redskins
In 2012, Mike Shanahan hired Hilliard as the wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. He coached a group of four receivers who each had at least 500 receiving yards. The Redskins won their last seven games to finish with a 10–6 record. They won the NFC East division title, their first since 1999.
Buffalo Bills
In 2013, the Buffalo Bills hired Hilliard as their wide receivers coach. He worked with young receivers, including Steve Johnson and rookies Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin.
Return to Washington Redskins
In January 2014, Hilliard was hired again by the Washington Redskins, this time by Jay Gruden. He coached experienced receivers like Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson. In the 2015 season, the Redskins returned to the playoffs. They won the NFC East with a 9–7 record. However, they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. During the 2019 season, Hilliard helped new receivers like Terry McLaurin develop. McLaurin had a great rookie year and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Hilliard joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as their wide receivers coach in February 2020. He helped rookie Chase Claypool become the first Steelers rookie to score four touchdowns in one game. Claypool was also the only wide receiver in NFL history to do this in the same game. This helped the team start the season with a 4–0 record. Under Hilliard, Diontae Johnson had 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021. Johnson was then chosen for his first Pro Bowl. After the 2021 season, Hilliard's contract was not renewed.
Auburn Tigers
On February 23, 2022, Hilliard became the wide receivers coach for the Auburn Tigers. When head coach Bryan Harsin was let go in October 2022, Hilliard became the interim co-offensive coordinator. He left Auburn after the 2022 season.
Atlanta Falcons
On February 1, 2024, Ike Hilliard was named the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Personal Life
Ike Hilliard is the nephew of former New Orleans Saints player Dalton Hilliard. His cousin Kenny Hilliard also played in the NFL. Ike and his wife Lourdes met at the University of Florida. They have five children. After playing and coaching in the NFL for 23 seasons, Hilliard went back to the University of Florida to finish his degree. He worked as an NFL coach while completing his studies from 2013 to 2018.
See also
- 1996 College Football All-America Team
- Florida Gators football, 1990–99
- History of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
- List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
- List of New York Giants players
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
