Winston Hill

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Winston Hill (born October 23, 1941 in Joaquin, Texas) was an American college and professional football player. He played both offensive and defensive line in college at Texas Southern University and was an All-American. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1963, but signed as a free agent with New York’s American Football League franchise in the same year that they became the New York Jets, and went on to record the tenth-longest string of starts in pro football history at 174. As left tackle for the Jets he spent his career protecting Joe Namath's blind side and opening holes for the likes of Emerson Boozer, Matt Snell, and John Riggins. He was an American Football League All-Star in 1964, 1967, 1968 and 1969, and a Pro Bowl selection in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. Despite this, he has yet to be nominated or inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and Joe Namath joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1977; Namath retired after one season and Hill after three games.

Hill was an overpowering blocker who was instrumental in opening gaping holes for Matt Snell in the Third Professional AFL-NFL World Championship Game (Super Bowl III) as the Jets decimated the right side of the Baltimore Colts defensive line and Snell gained 121 yards rushing in the Jets 16-7 upset victory. He was selected to the second-team All-time All-American Football League Team and is a member of the Texas Southern Sports Hall of Fame and the New York Jets All-Time team. Mr. Hill hails from Joaquin, Texas. His father, the late Garfield Hill, served as principal of Weldon High School. Winston was a tennis champion in high school.

Hill is currently the owner and operator of a small restaurant in Centennial, Colorado called "Winston Hill's Ribs and Stuff."

See also

• Other American Football League players