All-Time NFL Players From Acadiana: Johnny Hector

A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled Shane Garrett, who went to Crowley High School.

Today, we spotlight former New Iberia Senior High School great Johnny Hector.

Born on November 26, 1960 in Lafayette, Hector's father passed away when he was 9-years old.

The youngest of six children, Hector, who was raised by his mother and sisters, grew up in New Iberia, and later attended New Iberia Senior High School, where he was a standout running back, gaining all-state and all-America honors in football, as well as track, as a long jumper and triple jumper

Following his high school years, Hector went on to college at Texas A&M, where he compiled 2,587 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns for the Aggies, to go along with 67 pass receptions for 516 yards, between 1979-1982.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Hector was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft.

Hector made his NFL debut with the Jets in 1983, at the age of 23, playing in 10 games, mainly as a reserve and kick returner, rushing for 85 yards on 16 carries.

The 1984-1986 seasons saw Hector's playing time, and production increase, rushing for 531, 572, and 605 yards, respectively, in those years, while scoring a combined 15 rushing touchdowns.

Speaking of rushing touchdowns, Hector had a career-high 11 in 1987, which tied him with Charles White for the most in the NFL that season.

Hector scored ten more rushing touchdowns in 1988, before rushing for a career-high 702 yards in 1989, to go along with 38 receptions for 330 yards, also career-highs.

Also used as a kick returner at different time during his career, Hector played two more seasons, before retiring following the 1992 campaign.

In ten NFL seasons, all with the Jets, Hector appeared in 126 career games, while rushing for 4,280 yards and 41 touchdowns, to go along with 188 catches for 1,661 yards and three touchdowns.

Today, Hector is 56-years old and is involved with the Peter Sports Management Mentor program.

Check out Hector in action, as a part of the Jets' 1987 highlight film, below: