Jerry Hillebrand

Gerald John Hillebrand (born March 28, 1940) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

Jerry Hillebrand

Hillebrand in 1965
No. 87, 69
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1940-03-28) March 28, 1940 (age 85) Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:	Central (Davenport)
College:	Colorado
NFL draft:	1962: 1st round, 13th pick
AFL draft:	1962: 2nd round, 10th pick
Career history
New York Giants (1962–1966) St. Louis Cardinals (1967) Pittsburgh Steelers (1968–1970)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-American (1961) 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1960, 1961)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Born and raised in Davenport, Iowa, Hillebrand played scholastically at Central High School.^[1] He played collegiately for the Colorado Buffaloes,^[2] where, as a senior, he was honored as a first-team All-American by both the Associated Press (AP) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).^[3][4]

Hillebrand was selected by the New York Giants in the first round (13th overall) of the 1962 NFL draft.^[5] He was also selected in the second round (10th overall) of the 1962 AFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.^[6]

He chose to sign with the Giants, but his rookie training camp was interrupted by a six month hitch in the Marine Corp, from February to August. As a result, he saw no playing time in 1962.^[7] He spent the 1963 through 1966 seasons with the Giants, starting 32 of the 49 games in which he appeared. He intercepted nine passes, returning three for touchdowns.^[8]

Hillebrand was with the St. Louis Cardinals for one uneventful year in 1967. He finished his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1968 - 1970). Overall he logged 14 career interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries.^[8]

Hillebrand is no relation to the Giants' 1944 first-round draft pick, Billy Hillenbrand.