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T.Y. Hilton #16 of the Dallas Cowboys
It was third-and-30, in December 2022. The Dallas Cowboys were facing the NFC East-leading Eagles at AT&T Stadium, with a little more than eight minutes to play in the game and the Cowboys trailing, 34-27. Quarterback Dak Prescott had been sacked on back-to-back plays by the Eagles, losing 20 yards on the two plays and bringing up a near-impossible situation for Dallas. It was third-and-30 from the Cowboys’ own 29-yard line and hopes for a comeback win were dimming.
But Prescott dropped back to pass and, for the first time, saw speedy veteran receiver T.Y. Hilton breaking away down the left side. Prescott hit him with a well-placed deep ball and Hilton made the catch curling into a dive between two defensive backs, giving the Cowboys a 52-yard gain.
The Cowboys converted the subsequent touchdown, tied the game, and went on to win, 40-34 tanks to two further field goals. For Hilton, it was one of only seven catches he made in a three-game stint with the Cowboys, but it was a major exclamation point.
TY Hilton Had Been Out of the NFL
Here we are, a little more than three years later, and Hilton has not played in the NFL since that exciting run he gave the Cowboys at the end of the 2022 season. He played in both of the Cowboys’ playoff games that year, tallying three more catches.
But Hilton has not played since. He was intent on coming back to the NFL, but the NFL, it seemed, had moved on. Even before the Cowboys had signed him, Hilton had been a free agent for a year after the team for which he put up four Pro Bowl seasons–the Colts–had cut him because of injury concerns. There was some hope that his stint with the Cowboys would restart his Career, but no such luck.
On Wednesday, Hilton finally announced that he is officially retiring from the NFL.
Cowboys Mentioned in Announcement
Hilton did mention the Cowboys in his farewell to the league, but focused on the Colts organization where he starred for 10 seasons.
“After an incredible journey, it’s time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter,” Hilton posted to X. “Thank you to Mr. Irsay, his family and the entire Colts organization for believing in a kid from Miami and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream wearing the horseshoe. …
“To my teammates — thank you for the brotherhood. The early mornings, long practices and the battles on Sundays are memories I’ll carry with me forever.”
Of the Cowboys, Hilton said, “I also want to thank the Cowboys organization for giving me the opportunity to continue playing the game I love.”
TY Hilton ‘Put it on Tape’ for Cowboys
The catch against the Eagles, though, will be forever remembered by the Cowboys faithful. Hilton was defiant at that time, knowing that he had been shrugged off by the NFL because of his age. But he showed that he still had the speed, still had the veteran know-how to make plays when most needed.
As he said at the time: “The ball just took off and I’m like, ‘Well, here we go. That’s what I do, man, I just make plays. That’s what I’m here for. Continue to make plays. …
“Just cause my age says 33, it doesn’t mean I can’t still run. And I put it on tape today. So, I look forward to the next couple weeks, and me, I’m just gonna continue to get better, continue to learn, stay in my playbook and continue to help this team.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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