W. K. Hicks

W. K. Hicks

No. 33
Positions	Cornerback, Safety
Personal information
Born	(1942-07-14)July 14, 1942Texarkana, Texas, U.S.
Died	May 8, 2020(2020-05-08) (aged 77)Houston, Texas, U.S.
Career information
College	Texas Southern
NFL draft	1964: undrafted
Career history
Houston Oilers (1964–1969) New York Jets (1970–1972) Florida Blazers (1974)
Awards and highlights
AFL All-Star (1966) Second-team All-AFL (1965) AFL interceptions leader (1965)
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions 40 Return yards 645 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Wilmer Kenzie Hicks (July 14, 1942 – May 8, 2020)^[1] was an American professional football player who was a defensive back for the American Football League (AFL)'s Houston Oilers (1964–1969), and for the National Football League (NFL)'s New York Jets (1970–1972). Before his professional career, Hicks played college football for the Texas Southern Tigers.

In his rookie season of 1964, Hicks had five interceptions in 10 starts (14 games played). In his second season of 1965, he led the AFL in interceptions with nine in 14 games. He was named to the All-AFL Second Team by most of the press.^[2] He started 12 games in 1966 and had three interceptions but was named to the AFL All-Star Game for the only time in his career. He closed out his AFL and Oiler career in 1969 with four interceptions in nine starts. In the AFL era, he had 27 interceptions, which was 17th most in the history of the league.^[3] He played for the New York Jets for three seasons and recorded 13 combined interceptions, with eight coming in 1970. He closed his NFL career with three starts in 1972 and one interception to get to 40 for a career. He was one of just 38 players with 40 total interceptions in football history.^[4]

He ended his professional career by playing for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League in 1974.^[5]

In 1989, Hicks became doorman at the Lancaster Hotel in downtown Houston, where he worked for several years.^[6] Hicks died in 2020 at the age of 77 in Houston; he was survived by his wife and eight children. He was buried at San Jacinto Memorial Park.^[7]

See also

• Other American Football League players

References

1. Wilmer Kenzie Hicks obituary, May 12, 2020
2. "1965 AFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
3. "For combined seasons, from 1960 to 1969, played in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Interceptions". Stathead. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
4. "For combined seasons, up to 1974, in the regular season, sorted by descending Interceptions". Stathead. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
5. http://wfl.charlottehornetswfl.com/rosters_1974/04.php
6. https://www.chron.com/business/article/Moneymakers-W-K-Hicks-Lancaster-Hotel-s-doorman-1754540.php
7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210108952/wilmer-kenzie-hicks