Billy Howton
1952 Bowman football card | |||||||||
| No. 86, 81 | |||||||||
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| Position: | End | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | July 3, 1930 Littlefield, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 191 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Plainview (TX) | ||||||||
| College: | Rice | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1952: 2nd round, 15th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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William Harris Howton (born July 3, 1930) is an American former professional football player who was an end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and expansion Dallas Cowboys.
As a rookie, Howton caught thirteen touchdown passes, a rookie record that was tied but not broken until 1998. Howton caught a total 503 career passes for a total of 8,459 yards. In doing so, he surpassed then leader Don Hutson to become the all-time leader in receptions and yardage. This made him the first receiver with 500 catches in pro football history. In over a half century since Howton's retirement, the dawn of improved passing has seen him drop into the top 50.
Despite his extensive credentials, he has yet to be named a finalist or semifinalist in Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting. He retired after the 1963 season, after four years with Dallas. In 2004, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.