Died July 17, 1994 Nominations Heisman Trophy Name Billy Hillenbrand Date joined 1941 | Rushing attempts-yards: 216-889 Position Halfback College: Indiana University Career end 1948 | |
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Date of birth: (1922-03-29)March 29, 1922 Date of death: July 17, 1994(1994-07-17) (aged 72) NFL draft: 1944 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
(By the New York Giants) Role American football halfback Education Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University | ||
Place of birth: Armstrong, Indiana | ||
Billy Hillenbrand: Football Halfback
William Frank "Billy" Hillenbrand (March 29, 1922 – July 17, 1994) was an American football halfback who played professionally in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He was born in Armstrong, Indiana. He attended Indiana University where he played for the Hoosiers. In 1942, he was a consensus All-American, having been selected as a first-team All-American halfback by the United Press, Sporting News, Central Press Association, NEA wire service, Collier's Weekly, New York Sun, and Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the 1st round (6th pick overall) in the 1944 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in the AAFC from 1946-1948 for the Chicago Rockets and Baltimore Colts. He played in a total of 41 NFL games. He was a versatile player, who scored 186 points gained over 4,000 all-purpose yards in three years of professional football—1,987 receiving, 1,042 on kickoff returns, 889 rushing, and 612 on punt returns. He also had a 48-yard interception return, a 96-yard kickoff return, and an 89-yard punt return. In 1948, his total of 970 receiving yards, and his average of 11.2 yards per touch was the best in the AAFC, and his total of 2,067 all-purpose yards was second best in the league.