We all filled out MadLibs as kids. They were the perfect time-killer on long, hot family car rides or when you were stuck at home with nothing else to do. The concept was simple: you were given a short story with key words left blank, and the fun came from filling them in without knowing the context. For instance, the game might ask for a verb and you would blurt out “throwing,” or it might ask for a noun and someone would say “toilet.” Once all the blanks were filled, you read the story aloud and the result was usually absurd, often hilarious, and always memorable.
The football life of Calvin Hill reads like a finished MadLib. It is as if someone had randomly shouted out answers when asked for “College,” “Position,” “Career,” “Famous Person,” or even “Son.” Only in this case, the result isn’t funny or nonsensical. Hill’s story is remarkable, inspiring, and one-of-a-kind. Welcome to the real-life MadLib of Calvin Hill.
A Curious College Choice
Hill’s story begins with his college choice, which at first glance seems unusual and maybe even misguided. In high school, he was a four-sport star, excelling in everything he touched. Most notably, he was the quarterback of a team that never lost a game during his time there. An All-American, Hill seemed destined for a traditional football powerhouse, a place with massive crowds and a culture built entirely around the sport.
That is not where he landed. Earlier that year, Hill had taken a day off school to tour Columbia. When his coach heard about the visit, he assumed Hill was open to considering Ivy League options. Without even telling Hill, the coach scheduled a trip to Yale. On that visit, Hill attended a game against Dartmouth, played in front of a staggering 70,000 fans. The experience left its mark, and Hill made the surprising decision to commit to Yale.
Switching Positions and Shining Bright
Hill’s move to the college game came with a position change, but also with immediate promise. Although he had been a quarterback throughout high school, Yale first tried him at linebacker before eventually settling him at running back. His first two years in New Haven were steady, if unspectacular, but his senior season changed everything.
In 1968 Hill dominated the Ivy League. He led the conference in both rushing and receiving touchdowns, ranked fourth in passing touchdowns, fourth in rushing yards, and third in receiving yards. By season’s end he had piled up 1,212 all-purpose yards and 84 points in just nine games, averaging 134 yards and more than nine points per outing.
For any player, those numbers would have stood out. For Hill, they were historic, especially since the next closest Ivy League player finished with fewer than 900 total yards. With Hill carrying the offense, the Bulldogs rolled to an 8-0-1 record and a share of the Ivy League title.
The NFL Takes Notice
Despite playing in a weaker talent pool, Hill’s undeniable talent and athleticism drew NFL scouts. The Dallas Cowboys took him in the first round as an “athlete,” a designation usually reserved for incoming college freshmen rather than NFL draft picks.
Although Hill had thrived as a running back at Yale, the Cowboys did not initially plan to use him there. At 6’4, he was considered too tall for the position, so they had him practice at linebacker and tight end. But when injuries and retirements wiped out Dallas’s top three running backs, the team had little choice but to give Hill snaps in the backfield. The move proved decisive, as Hill immediately rewarded their trust.
A Rookie Sensation
Hill delivered an incredible rookie season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, earning All-Pro honors, and finishing fourth in MVP voting. Not bad for someone the Cowboys initially envisioned at linebacker or tight end.
He kept building on that fast start. Over the next four seasons, Hill rushed for more than 3,000 yards and earned two Pro Bowl selections. Then, in 1973, his career took an unexpected turn.
The Great Tight End Experiment That Never Came To Be
In the 1973 offseason, Hill stunned fans and coaches by announcing that he wanted to switch positions to tight end. Even Tom Landry was caught off guard. Hill spent much of that offseason campaigning for the move, treating it almost like a press tour. He repeatedly told reporters it was his natural position and even started telling teammates he had already made the switch, despite never receiving approval from Landry.
It was one of the strangest offseason sagas in Cowboys history. The franchise’s first 1,000-yard rusher was determined to abandon running back for a role he had never played at any level. The Cowboys held firm, unwilling to risk losing one of the league’s top rushers.
So Hill stayed put, and he proved once again how valuable he was. That fall he ran for more than 1,100 yards and earned another trip to the Pro Bowl.
Later Career and Injuries
Hill continued his strong career with the Cowboys until 1975, when he left the NFL for the fledgling World Football League. He played for The Hawaiians but lasted only three games before tearing his MCL and missing the rest of the season. The WFL folded while Hill was injured, so eventually he went back to the NFL.
He signed with Washington and played as a backup for two seasons before announcing his retirement. By 1978, Hill was no longer the same player, his legs worn down by years of injuries. Yet teams were still interested, and the Cleveland Browns convinced him to come out of retirement. He played four more years, finally retiring in 1981 with 6,000 career rushing yards.
The Real-Life MadLib
If you are still not convinced of Hill’s MadLib essence, consider a few remarkable facts. His wife’s college roommate was Hillary Clinton. His son is NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill. And after football, he served on the board of directors of the Baltimore Orioles.
Calvin Hill’s career reads like a fill-in-the-blank puzzle. Unexpected choices, strange twists, and surprising connections stitched together into one remarkable life. His journey is proof of just how unpredictable sports can be.
And with all apologies to Dos Equis, maybe Calvin Hill is actually the most interesting man in the world.
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