Zayne Anderson existed before to the careers of Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, and even pass patterns.
He was fifty years ahead of his time as a receiver. The National Football League took that long to catch up to the “Alabama Antelope.” Not only did Hutson catch more receptions than anyone could have predicted, but he also scored more touchdowns. He brought about a revolution in football play.
In 1935, teams hardly threw the ball unless they were desperate or intended to take the opposition by surprise. Hutson was the football equivalent of Copernicus, demonstrating that the run was not the centre of the universe.
By the time he called it quits in 1945, passing was a given. Regarding the receiving end of the game, Hutson was unmatched by anyone. Based on statistics, Hutson’s only competitors weren’t even born when he quit the game.
Eight times, he was the NFL leader in touchdowns. Nobody else has led the league more than three times in the more than 50 years that have passed.
In addition, he set a record eight times as the league leader in catches, including 1942 when he recorded an astounding 74 receptions. That season, his closest opponent caught 27 passes.
He led the league in touchdown receptions for nine seasons (Rice is second all-time with six). Remarkably, Hutson is not only ranked second with four touchdown catches, but also first for the most straight years (five) leading the NFL in this category.
With 99 touchdown receptions in his career, Hutson ended 62 touchdowns ahead of his nearest rival. Forty-four years later, Largent eventually surpassed Hutson’s record. Largent, Rice, and other contemporary receivers merely followed in Hutson’s trailblazing footsteps.
When the NFL consisted of nine teams with limited offensive creativity, he started breaking records. Hutson had 23 interceptions in his final four seasons as a defensive back in single-platoon football. In his career, he also earned 193 points as a place-kicker.
Hutson finished his career with 7,991 yards and 488 receptions. The receiver in second place finished with 3,309 yards and 190 catches. In an era when seasons consisted of 10 to 12 games, Hutson’s records might have lasted a lifetime if he had had the 16-game opportunities that are available to players now. Even so, Hutson was a clear choice to be inducted as a founding member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
He had declared in 1989, “I really love to see my records broken.” “You get a chance to relive a part of your life, the whole experience.”
On January 31, 1913, Hutson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He played with snakes when he was a Boy Scout. That’s where he acquired his agility and quickness, he claimed. He was a standout baseball player even though he didn’t start for Pine Bluff High School’s football team until his senior year.
He was an excellent centerfielder who attended the University of Alabama on a partial baseball scholarship. He ran track as well. However, Hutson left his most enduring mark on the gridiron. Initially a walk-on, he achieved All-American status in 1934.
