The Offside Kid: Bill Hewitt, The Fearless Two-Way Pioneer Who Refused a Helmet

• Birthdate and Place: October 8, 1909, in Bay City, Michigan.

College Career William Ernest “Bill” Hewitt forged his reputation as a “hard-headed, fleet-footed” player at the University of Michigan from 1929 to 1931. While his play would define his pro career as an end (an early version of a tight end/defensive end), Hewitt was a versatile contributor for the Wolverines. In his senior season, he earned First-team All-Big Ten honors and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Notably, that year, he started games at both left end and fullback, highlighting his versatility even at the collegiate level and proving himself ready for the multifaceted demands of the early professional game.

Road to the Pro Game Hewitt entered the professional ranks in 1932, joining the Chicago Bears, where he quickly became one of the league’s most dynamic “iron men,” often playing over 50 minutes per game on both offense and defense. A stubborn individual, he became famous for his refusal to wear a helmet, finally donning one only in his final season after the league made them mandatory. After five seasons and two NFL Championships with the Bears, Hewitt was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1937 for the rights to the first overall pick in the NFL draft—a testament to his value. He played three seasons with the Eagles before returning for a final, brief stint in 1943 with the Phil-Pitt Steagles, a temporary merger of the Eagles and Steelers during WWII.

Football Legacy Bill Hewitt‘s legacy is that of a fearless, innovative pioneer whose speed earned him the nickname “The Offside Kid” from fans who were bewildered by his immediate burst off the snap. He was a dominant two-way end and a critical component of the Bears’ two early NFL Championships (1932 and 1933). In the inaugural 1933 NFL Championship Game, Hewitt was involved in an innovative “gimmick” play—a jump pass from Bronko Nagurski that he lateraled to a teammate—to secure the title. He was posthumously enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, part of the legendary class that included Jim Brown and Vince Lombardi. The Bears honored his contribution by retiring his jersey No. 56.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

• NFL Champion (2x): 1932, 1933
• First-team All-Pro (4x): 1933, 1934, 1936, 1938
• Second-team All-Pro (2x): 1932, 1937
• NFL Receiving Touchdowns Leader: 1934 (5 TDs)
• NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 1971
• Teams: Chicago Bears (1932–1936), Philadelphia Eagles (1937–1939), Steagles (1943)
• Career Stats (9 Seasons, 101 Games): 103 Receptions, 1,638 Receiving Yards, 23 Receiving Touchdowns.