Bobby Hunt

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In Their Own Story

On October 4, 1964, Robert Hunt delivered the defining performance of his career against George Blanda and the Houston Oilers. In a single contest, he intercepted four passes, including one returned 29 yards for a touchdown. This exceptional display tied him with 19 other players for the NFL/AFL record for most interceptions in a game (through 2025). Earlier in his tenure, during the 1962 season, Hunt started all 14 games at strong safety for the Dallas Texans, securing a team-leading eight interceptions that set a franchise rookie record. That same year, he helped lead the Texans to an AFL Championship Game victory over the Houston Oilers with a score of 20–17 in double overtime. His consistency was remarkable; during his entire eight-year professional career, Hunt never missed a game, starting 108 of the 112 regular-season games he appeared in. In 1966, he recorded a career-high 10 interceptions, tying teammate Johnny Robinson for the AFL lead and earning second-team All-AFL honors from the AFL, Associated Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association.

Reader's Guide

Hunt attended Auburn University, where he was a two-way player at defensive back and quarterback on the Auburn Tigers football team. As a sophomore in 1959, he led the Tigers in passing yards, rushing yards, and scoring, and was named the SEC's sophomore of the year. He rushed for 552 yards and seven touchdowns that season, and his 5.6 yards per carry average led the SEC. In a November 1959 game against Mississippi State University, Hunt rushed for 214 or 216 yards on 16 carries, with touchdown runs of 42 and 51 yards. As a senior in 1961, he was Auburn's starting quarterback, passing for a team-leading 703 yards with two touchdowns and rushing for 347 yards with six rushing touchdowns, leading Auburn in scoring. He also quarterbacked the South to a 9–7 victory in the 1961 Blue-Gray Game and was named the game's outstanding player. After his playing career, Hunt was a defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills for two seasons (1970 and 1971). He is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame class of 2015.

Did You Know?

• Hunt was named first-team All-AFL by the Associated Press and United Press International as a rookie in 1962.
• He was second by one vote to teammate Curtis McClinton for the AP's AFL Rookie of the Year in 1962.
• In 1963, Hunt did not start until the season's fourth game, when he replaced Bobby Ply who suffered a broken nose after colliding with Hunt in practice.
• Hunt never missed a game during his eight-year AFL career, starting in 108 of the 112 regular season games in which he appeared.
• After retiring from coaching, Hunt worked for the Haggar Apparel Company and later retired to Charlotte, North Carolina.