Gordon Hudson

Gordon Hudson was born in Everett, Washington, and died on September 27, 2021, in San Jose in California. He attended Kennewick High School in Kennewick, Washingon and Brighton High School in Sandy, Utah. He "lettered" twice in three sports (baseball, basketball, and, perhaps most importantly, in football). Brigham Young University (BYU) recruited him to play football. He was a member of a Mormon family, but, apparently due to his athletic prowess, decided to pursue a professional football career instead of serving a Mormon Mission. He played professional football two seasons in the United States Football League with the Los Angeles Express, and one season in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks. At the time of his death, he still held three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) records for 1) the most passes caught per game by a tight end (5.4), and 2) the most career yards per game by a tight end (75.3) and most yards in a game by a tight end (259 vs. Utah). He and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young set another NCAA record: 44 catches and six touchdowns in an injury-shortened season. Gordon worked as an offensive coordinator for the San Jose Sabercats in the American Football League (AFL) from 1995-'97, and as the head coach for the Utah Catzz in the Professional Indoor Football (PIFL) (1998). Gordon coached his son's Cottonwood Colts Little League football team in Holladay, Utah for five seasons (2002-2006); they won the State Championship for their age range in 2002. Gordon also coached for the Northridge High School football team in Layton, Utah for three seasons (2011-2013). Gordon was honored as one of the Top Ten players in BYU Football History. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 as the first non-quarterback to represent BYU. Four children, four grandchildren, the mother of his children, and both of his parents, Glenn and Linda Hudson, survived Gordon.