J. D. Hill

This article is about the American football player. For the early American aviator, James DeWitt Hill (1882-1927), see J.D. Hill (aviator).

J. D. Hill

No. 40, 86
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1948-10-30) October 30, 1948 Stockton, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:	Edison (Stockton)
College:	Arizona State
NFL draft:	1971 / round: 1 / pick: 4
Career history
Buffalo Bills (1971–1975) Detroit Lions (1976–1977)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (1972)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 185 Receiving yards: 2,880 Receiving TDs: 21 Stats at Pro Football Reference

James D. "J. D." Hill (born October 30, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was the first wide receiver selected in the 1971 NFL draft at 4th in the first round by the Bills. His son, Lonzell Hill, also played wide receiver in the NFL. Another son, Shelby Hill, was a wide receiver for Syracuse University.

In 2014 Hill and seven other players were named as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the NFL. It alleges he, and more than 400 others were illegally given narcotics to mask the pain so they could play in games. "I became addicted and turned to the streets after my career and was homeless. Never took a drug in my life, and I became a junkie in the NFL" he said.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1971	BUF	5	5	11	216	19.6	47	2
1972	BUF	14	14	52	754	14.5	58	5
1973	BUF	14	14	29	422	14.6	42	0
1974	BUF	14	14	32	572	17.9	55	6
1975	BUF	14	13	36	667	18.5	77	7
1976	DET	1	1	1	2	2.0	2	0
1977	DET	11	11	24	247	10.3	23	1
		73	72	185	2,880	15.6	77	21

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Receiving
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1974	BUF	1	1	4	59	14.8	20	0
		1	1	4	59	14.8	20	0