Gordon Hudson
Gordon Hudson was a Brigham Young University All-American tight end who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 as the first non-quarterback to represent BYU. He was named one of the top 10 players in BYU football history. He helped BYU win four WAC championships and four Holiday Bowl invitations.
Beyond college, he played in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks and the United States Football League for the L.A. Express. He coached after his playing career and worked as an offensive coordinator for the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League (1995–1997) and was head coach of the Utah Catzz in 1998. He helped coach at Northridge High School in Layton for three seasons (2011–2013) and coached his son’s Ute Conference youth football team in Holladay, Utah, from 2002–2006.
Hudson was born on June 22, 1962, in Everett, Washington. He was baptized and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Kennewick High School in Kennewick, Washington. As a high school athlete, he lettered twice in three different sports: football, basketball, and baseball. He was an all-conference tight end for Kennewick High School, while also earning all-conference honors in basketball. His family had moved to Sandy, Utah, and he joined them in the middle of his senior year. He was recruited by Oregon State, University of Montana, University of Idaho, University of Washington, Washington State, Utah State, and BYU.
While playing for BYU, he was a two-time unanimous All-American (1982-83), and holds the NCAA records for most passes caught per game by a tight end (5.4), most career yards per game by a tight end (75.3) and most yards in a game by a tight end (259 vs. Utah). As a sophomore, he received All-WAC second-team Honors and honorable mention All-American. He tied the NCAA record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 67. As a junior, he was the only unanimous All-WAC Selection, earning unanimous All-American status. As a senior, he teamed with Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young to set an NCAA record 44 catches and six touchdowns in an injury-shortened season. And for the second straight year, he earned All-WAC first-team and first-team All-American honors.[1]
At BYU, Hudson and Steve Young became roommates and speaking partners. Hudson remembered, “I’m not just talking about speaking around the state of Utah; I’m talking about speaking all over the country. They wore us out. By my estimation, in the four years I spent at BYU, I probably attended 500 speaking engagements. It was something we took very seriously. We tried hard to be a good example, to use our station as athletes to influence the youth and be a positive example of the Church and what it stands for. When I stood at a pulpit or a podium and talked to people, it was genuine and from the heart. For the next three years, I literally felt that that was my calling. That was my mission.”[2]
Hudson was the father of four children. He passed away on September 27, 2021, in San Jose, California.
