Bill Hewitt (American football)

Bill Hewitt

Date of birth:	October 8, 1909(1909-10-08)
Place of birth:	Bay City, Michigan
Date of death:	January 14, 1947(1947-01-14) (aged 37)
Career information
Position(s):	End
College:	Michigan
Organizations
As player:
1932-1936 1937-1939 1943	Chicago Bears Philadelphia Eagles Steagles
Career highlights and awards
Honors:	NFL 1930s All-Decade Team Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll Chicago Bears #56 retired
Playing stats at NFL.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1971

William Ernest "Bill" Hewitt (October 8, 1909 – January 14, 1947) was a professional American football player in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Chicago Bears (1932-1936), three for the Philadelphia Eagles (1937-1939), and one for the Phil-Pitt Steagles (1943). He is probably most remembered for his refusal to wear a helmet as the last NFL player not to wear one. He attended the University of Michigan. Hewitt died in a car crash in 1947.

Hewitt was traded to the Eagles with $4,000 in cash from the Bears in exchange for the rights to the first overall selection in the 1937 NFL Draft, Sam Francis, on February 15, 1937. Hewitt's game salary increased from $100 per game to $200 per game following the trade.

Hewitt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

See also

• University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

Sources

• Lyons, Robert S. (2010). On Any Given Sunday, A Life of Bert Bell. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-59213-731-2

External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
• Bill Hewitt at Find a Grave