George Hoey

George William Hoey (born November 14, 1946) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back, punt returner and kickoff returner in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines (1966–1968) and in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots (1972–1973), San Diego Chargers (1974), Denver Broncos (1975), and New York Jets (1975).

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 (post-1949) records for most punt return yards in a game (140), most return yards per punt in a season (24.3) and most return yards per punt in a career (17.1). 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.

Since 1993, Hoey has worked in administration at the University of Colorado. He worked first in academic services for the athletic department. After controversies in the late 1990s concerning eligibility of University of Colorado athletes, Hoey accepted a position in the school's career services department providing career counseling to student athletes.

High school athlete at Flint Central Hoey was born in Gaffney, South Carolina. He moved with his family from South Carolina to Flint, Michigan at age 13. As a senior in 1964, Hoey was named an All-State halfback by The Detroit News and UPI. He also led the Saginaw Valley Conference in scoring for two seasons. With Ron Johnson playing halfback, Hoey was used principally as a defensive back and punt returner. Playing against Navy in 1968, Hoey had two interceptions which he returned for 31 yards, and punt returns of 63 and 36 yards. He was named an All-Big Ten defensive back in 1968.

Most yards per return in a season Hoey also holds the modern (post-1949) Michigan school record for yards per return in a season. Hoey's 1967 average ranks sixth in NCAA Division I-A history behind the all-time Michigan leader Gene Derricotte who ranks fifth. However, the Michigan record books base single-season leadership based upon minimum 15 returns per game and Hoey's name is omitted.

NFL football player Hoey was selected 346th overall by the Detroit Lions in the 14th round of the 1969 NFL draft. He played five seasons in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals (1971), New England Patriots (1972–1973), San Diego Chargers (1974), Denver Broncos (1975) and New York Jets (1975). Hoey played in 53 NFL games and had four punt returns for 38 return yards, 21 kickoff returns for 534 return yards, and two interceptions for 45 return yards. He set a Cardinals club record with six kickoff returns for 206 yards, one for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. Hoey had the misfortune of playing with losing teams throughout his NFL career. The best team that he played for was the 1975 Denver Broncos, who recorded a 6–8 record.

Professional career at the University of Colorado Hoey has worked in various capacities at the University of Colorado. From 1993–1999, Hoey was involved in academic services in Colorado's athletic department. Hoey "came under fire for an eligibility problem of a prospective CU athlete," including linebacker who lost a year of eligibility and was forced to sit out the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season due to an error in calculating his transfer credits. In 1999, Hoey transferred out of the athletic department and began working in the university's career services department. That October, Jones told The Denver Post that Hoey "wasn't necessarily a scapegoat, but there were definitely mistakes made in his department."

In 2004, the Colorado Daily reported that Hoey was a career counselor working with all students to help them prepare for their future careers. I provide information that will hopefully have them taking advantage of many services and resources." In May 2007, Hoey was the University of Colorado's career development coordinator and a co-chair of the Black Faculty/Staff Association, and the Virginia Patterson Chapter of Mortar Board Honors Society at the University of Colorado honored Hoey for his efforts to educate students.

Family and honors Herb Washington, former Oakland A and world-class sprinter, is Hoey's cousin. Hoey is married to Erin Hoag and has two sons, William and Sean. He was inducted into the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame in 2001, and he was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Career statistics