Tony Hill

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hill's story is defined by his transformation from a high school quarterback at Long Beach Polytechnic High School into Stanford's record-breaking wide receiver. After breaking Gene Washington's passing records in high school, he followed him to Stanford only to shatter Washington's receiving marks as well. As a senior, an ankle injury against Penn State forced him to miss the Michigan game and limited him in two contests, yet he still graduated at age 20 with a 3.3 GPA in Political Science and ranks eleventh on Stanford's career receiving yards list (2,225). In the NFL, his partnership with Drew Pearson and Tony Dorsett created history in 1979 when Dallas became the first team to feature two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard running back. Hill caught 60 passes for 1,062 yards that year. His best statistical season came in 1985 with 74 catches for 1,100 yards. Known for his ability to adjust to the ball mid-air and turn short plays into big ones, he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

In Their Own Story

The defining moments of Hill's career include his Super Bowl XII victory over the Denver Broncos (27–10) as a rookie punt returner and backup receiver. The following season, he started over Golden Richards and Butch Johnson, earning a Pro Bowl nod with 46 catches for 823 yards. In Super Bowl XIII against Pittsburgh, he caught two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown in the 35–31 loss. His versatility shone in a 1982 divisional playoff game against Tampa Bay, where he recorded seven catches for 142 yards in a dominant 38–0 win. By 1979, he and Pearson had become the first wide receiver tandem in franchise history to post 1,000-yard seasons simultaneously. Hill's speed was so lethal that Landry called him "Our Home Run Hitter," noting his ability to adjust to a ball in mid-air. After Pearl retired following the 1983 season, Hill became the number one receiver, leading the team in receptions and yardage for nine straight years until he was waived by Dallas in 1987.

Reader's Guide

Tony Hill's career statistics reflect his consistency as a deep threat who averaged 16.7 yards per reception over 142 games. He finished with 479 receptions, 7,988 receiving yards, and 51 touchdowns. His total yardage (rushing and receiving) of 8,072 ranks fifth in Cowboys history behind Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and Jason Witten. At the time of his departure, he held the team records for most receiving yards, second-most receptions, and second-most touchdowns. Beyond receiving, Hill returned 27 punts for 268 yards and gained 96 yards on four kickoff returns. His final NFL stop was a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers in July 1987; although they outbid the Los Angeles Rams, he was released before playing a regular-season game. Off the field, Hill appeared as a captain on the game show Greed in 2000 and performed "Hot Blooded" on Good Morning Texas in 2011.

Did You Know?

• Hill broke the high school passing records of Gene Washington at Long Beach Polytechnic before following him to Stanford and breaking his receiving records there.
• In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson became the first wide receiver tandem in Cowboys history to both record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.
• Coach Tom Landry nicknamed Hill "Our Home Run Hitter" because of his ability to turn short plays into big ones with his speed.
• Hill was released by the San Francisco 49ers on September 7, 1987, after they outbid the Los Angeles Rams for his services in July.
• He appeared as a contestant and team captain on the game show Greed in 2000, losing $500,000 on an automotive market share question.