Bill Hewitt
Inducted:
1971
Player Stats
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Born:
October 8, 1909
Bay City, Michigan, U.S.
Died:
January 14, 1947
Sellersville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Position:
Defensive end
End
College:
Michigan (1929–1931)
Bill Hewitt was one of the NFL’s most dynamic two-way players in the 1930s, known as “The Offside Kid” for his astonishing quickness and instincts. A standout end for both the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, he starred on offense and defense, often playing over 50 minutes a game.
Hewitt helped the Bears win the first NFL Championship Game in 1933 and a second in 1932, delivering clutch plays like a lateraled game-winning touchdown in the title match. In 1934, he led the league in receiving touchdowns. Named a first-team All-Pro six times and selected to the NFL’s 1930s All-Decade Team, he was a dominant presence before passing modern recordkeeping.
Honored posthumously with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, Hewitt is remembered as a fearless pioneer whose speed, versatility, and playmaking defined early pro football.
Hewitt's Awards and Honors
- 2× NFL Champion (1932, 1933)
- 6× First-Team All-Pro (1932–1934, 1936–1938)
- NFL Receiving Touchdowns Leader (1934)
- NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- Chicago Bears jersey #56 retired
NFL Records
- Starred in the NFL’s first championship game with a memorable lateral to clinch the title
- Nicknamed “The Offside Kid” for unreal snap reactions that stunned opponents
- Excelled as a dominant two-way player, a rare feat even in his era
- Remembered as a fierce competitor whose play shaped early NFL history
NFL Teams
Chicago Bears (1932–1936)
Philadelphia Eagles (1937–1939)
Steagles (1943)
Number Worn:
56, 82
NFL Stats
Seasons:
9 (1932–1943)
Games Played:
101
Starts:
89
Receptions:
103
Receiving Yards:
1,638
Receiving Touchdowns:
24