Ronnie Hillman facts for kids
Hillman with the Denver Broncos in 2012
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | September 14, 1991 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
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| Died: | December 21, 2022 (aged 31) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||
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| High school: | La Habra (La Habra, California) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | San Diego State (2009–2011) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 3 / Pick: 67 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Ronald Keith Ryan Hillman Jr. (born September 14, 1991 – died December 21, 2022) was an American professional football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft. Ronnie was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50. He also played for the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, and Dallas Cowboys.
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Early Life and High School Football
Ronnie Hillman was born in Long Beach, California, on September 14, 1991. He grew up in Compton. As a kid, he played football in a sports league run by the famous rapper Snoop Dogg. He even played on an all-star team with another future NFL player, De'Anthony Thomas. Ronnie had four brothers and one sister.
Ronnie showed his amazing sports skills early on at La Habra High School. He was a star in basketball, football, and track. In high school football, he played as a running back. In 2008, he helped his team, the Highlanders, win a big championship. He ran for 1,615 yards and scored 20 touchdowns that season.
In 2009, during his senior year, Ronnie was named the best player in his league. He gained 2,104 total yards and scored 27 touchdowns. He led his team to a great 12–2 record. He was also a fast sprinter on the track team. He could run the 100-meter dash in just 10.7 seconds!
After high school, Ronnie was considered a good player by many experts. He decided to play college football for San Diego State University (SDSU).
College Football Career
Ronnie Hillman did not play in 2009. He took a year off to sort out some school paperwork. During this time, he moved to Atlanta and worked as a waiter. He also studied hard to pass his college entrance exam. This allowed him to return to SDSU the next year.
Freshman Season
In 2010, as a freshman, Ronnie had an incredible season. He ran for 1,532 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. In one game, he ran for 228 yards, which was a huge achievement for a new player.
Sophomore Season
In 2011, during his second year, Ronnie continued to shine. He was named an All-American by the Associated Press. He rushed for 1,478 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was one of the best running backs in the entire NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. He ran for over 100 yards in eight of his team's 12 games that year.
On September 17, 2011, Ronnie scored four touchdowns in a game against Washington State. This helped his team win and start the season with a 3–0 record for the first time in 30 years! Later, he had a season-high 224 yards against Wyoming, including an amazing 99-yard touchdown run.
In January 2012, Ronnie decided to leave college early to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.
Professional Football Career
Ronnie Hillman was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team.
Denver Broncos (2012–2015)
In his first year (2012), Ronnie scored his first NFL touchdown. In 2013, he scored another touchdown. The Broncos made it to Super Bowl XLVIII, but they lost that game.
In 2014, Ronnie became the starting running back for the Broncos. He had his first game with over 100 rushing yards against the New York Jets. He followed that with another 100-yard game against the Chargers. He also scored two touchdowns in two different games. Unfortunately, he hurt his foot and missed most of the rest of the season.
The 2015 season was Ronnie's best year. He played in every game and had four games where he ran for over 100 yards. He scored seven touchdowns and led the team with 863 rushing yards. In one game, he had a fantastic 72-yard touchdown run, which was the longest of his NFL career. This was also one of the longest touchdown runs in Broncos history.
In Week 17, Ronnie scored a 23-yard touchdown that helped the Broncos win a close game against the San Diego Chargers. This win helped the Broncos finish with a great record and get the top spot for the playoffs. The Broncos then went on to win Super Bowl 50! Ronnie became the first player from Snoop Dogg's youth football program to win a Super Bowl.
Later Teams (2016–2017)
In 2016, Ronnie re-signed with the Broncos, but he was released before the season started. He then joined the Minnesota Vikings for a short time. After playing five games, he was released again.
The very next day, the San Diego Chargers picked him up. He played in three games for them. In 2017, Ronnie signed with the Dallas Cowboys, but he was released before the regular season began.
NFL Career Summary
Ronnie Hillman played in 56 NFL games during his career. He rushed for a total of 1,976 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 74 passes for 524 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Illness and Passing
In August 2022, Ronnie Hillman was diagnosed with a very rare form of kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma. Despite treatments, the cancer continued to get worse. In December 2022, he entered hospice care, which provides comfort and support for people with serious illnesses. He also developed pneumonia. Ronnie Hillman passed away on December 21, 2022, at the age of 31.
Images for kids
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Hillman with the Denver Broncos in 2012
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Ronnie Hillman's 1-yard touchdown run in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Ronnie Hillman para niños
