Tony Hutson, a guard for the Cowboys in the late 1990s, died in early February at the age of 49, according to reports. Online obituary.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“The 1996 Dallas Cowboys rookies had a special bond,” teammate Randall Godfrey said in a Facebook post. “He visited Valdosta several times to help with my annual football camp. I cherished every moment he made me cry after we laughed so hard.”
Mr Godfrey added: Brother, please rest. Gone too soon. “
He also told the Post: He was just a fun person to be around. He made everyone laugh. ”
Hutson emerged as an offensive tackle at MacArthur High School in Texas and played at Kilgore College before transferring to Northeastern Oklahoma State University.
Hutson was named an NAIA All-American in 1994 and 1995.
He went undrafted in 1996 after the Raiders discovered a benign tumor in his right lung during a physical.
“My first thought was that I would never be able to play football again,” Hutson said. said in 1996. “But then I realized there’s more to life than football. I just wanted to live my life. I talked to her mom about it and prayed about it.”
Surgery removed the tumor, and the Cowboys signed him as a free agent.
“It’s good that I’m fast. I’ll work hard because I don’t have the skills,” Hutson said.
He spent 1996 on the practice squad and missed most of 1997 training camp due to wrist surgery.
However, due to injuries to the Cowboys, he made his debut late that year, starting against Washington in a dramatic 17-14 win.
“I was very impressed” Hutson said at the time.. “I just kept thinking, ‘I hope nothing happens to Troy.’ [Aikman]. Don’t do anything bad. ‘I was nervous at first and made some mistakes early on, but after that I just did my job. ”
“This is my first start, millions of people are watching, and it’s the American team. I had to perform right. I can’t tell you in words what it was like there. I can’t explain it.”
Hutson played for the Cowboys throughout the 1999 season and appeared in three games against Washington in 2000.
Hutson played with the Raiders in 2001, but suffered a triceps injury and was released before the regular season.
