TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM

 

In 1965, the NFL Baltimore Colts found themselves without a quarterback during a playoff-bound season. Famed quarterback Johnny Unitas and his backup were both injured and for the first time in the modern era of professional football, an emergency quarterback was obtained- running back Tom Matte. Matte was a run-oriented quarterback at Ohio State and had been drafted by the Colts in 1961. Converted to a pure running back he had been in the Colt system for four years,

As a teenager I watched with fascination on television as Matte wearing his number 41 jersey and his wristband (with plays written by his wife and used for the first time ever in the NFL) lead his team for three games. Little did I realize that 55 years later a similar situation would occur.

On Sunday, November 29 the Denver Broncos found themselves without all three of their quarterbacks due to COVID-19 violations. The team asked Kendall Hinton to step up. As an undrafted rookie Hinton had played quarterback for three years at Wake Forest and then switched to wide receiver. It was at this position that Hinton signed with Broncos and he was placed on the practice squad and practiced with the scout team as a defensive back. On Saturday he was called up and with less than 24 hours’ notice Hinton was the Broncos emergency quarterback playing the playoff-bound New Orleans Saints.

The results? Nine pass attempts with 1 completion for 13 yards and 2 interceptions. On numerous plays the Bronco running backs took direct snaps from the center to take the pressure off Hinton. But with only 112 yards of total offense they were no match for the Saints in a 31-3 loss. (Yet the Broncos had more offensive yards in the first half than the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers had in their game against the Baltimore Eavens the following Wednesday.)

Following the game Matte wrote Hinton a two-page letter ending with, "I'm proud of how you stepped up for your teammates, particularly in what was an impossible situation in difficult circumstances. Decades from now, I hope you'll look back with pride on your experience -- you'll have quite a story to tell your grandchildren!" (Matte’s head coach was Don Shula and Hinton’s quarterbacks coach was Shula’s son Mike-you can’t make this stuff up!)

I concur with Matte. Hinton is now a sports hero to me just like Matte and like Jalen Hurts during his time with Alabama where he was demoted at starting quarterback and did not pout or complain. It is difficult to find real team players who will take one for the team with no guarantee of success. From this crazy year of 2020 may I remember Kendall Hinton as such a positive example.