George Hoey

Who is George Hoey?

George William Hoey is a former American football defensive back, punt returner and kickoff returner. He played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines and professionally in the National Football League for the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, and New York Jets.

In high school, Hoey was an All-State halfback. At the University of Michigan, College Football Hall of Fame halfback Ron Johnson was in Hoey's class, and Hoey was therefore used principally as a defensive back. Hoey is most remembered for his work as a punt returner at Michigan. He led the Big Ten Conference in punt return yards in 1967 and 1968, and still holds Michigan's modern era records for most punt return yards in a game, most return yards per punt in a season and most return yards per punt in a career. Hoey was also a record-setting sprinter on Michigan's track and field team.

In five seasons in the NFL, Hoey was principally a kickoff returner. In 1971, he set a St. Louis Cardinals club record with six kickoff returns for 206 yards, including one for 103 yards and a touchdown. He had 534 kickoff return yards in his career.