Tony Hutson: A Tribute to the Life and Career of an NFL Journeyman

Tony Hutson, a former Dallas Cowboys lineman, was discovered dead at the age of 49. No cause of death has been disclosed.

An internet obituary stated that Hutson died lately, and in a Facebook post, some of his former colleagues expressed their shock at the news. Teammate Randall Godfrey wrote on Facebook:

“Our 1996 Dallas Cowboys rookies had a special bond. He made several trips to Valdosta to help with my annual football camps. I cherished every moment that he had me crying after laughing so hard. You caught us off guard with this one. Take your rest my brother. Gone too soon.”

Tony Hutson played football at Kilgore College before transferring to Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Hutson earned NAIA All-American honors as an offensive tackle and was named to the Oklahoma College Football All-Century team in 1999.

Tony Hutson’s NFL Career

Tony Hutson was not taken in the 1996 NFL draft, but the Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent. During his draft physical, a benign tumour was discovered on his right lung, causing him to be undrafted, and Hutson claimed he feared his career was finished.

“My first thought was I would never get to play football anymore,” Hutson said in 1996, via The Oklahoman. “But then I thought there’s more to life than football. I just wanted to live my life. I talked to my mom about it and prayed about it.”

As a rookie, Hutson went to offensive guard but did not make the club out of camp. He spent the whole season on the practice squad but was called up to the main roster for the Divisional playoff game against the Carolina Panthers.

Hutson then spent the following season on the practice squad until getting activated for the last five games. Tony Hutson ended up playing 30 games in the NFL, including stints with Washington and the Oakland Raiders.

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