When we think of what parents provide an NFL player, we typically focus on genetic athletic ability and a productive home environment that nurtured and developed the player’s football talent.
We usually do not focus on the name that the player was given.
Such was not the case with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Fair Hooker, whose name brings a smile to many football fans.
However, Hooker should not only be remembered for his name.
Hooker was a solid pass catcher for the Browns from 1969 to 1974, with his play contributing to three Cleveland playoff teams.
Not a TD machine, but Fair Hooker was fast, dependable and ran solid routes. Also had one of the best receiver names ever. 1969-74 @VintageBrowns pic.twitter.com/HAIYCpsgqU
— mark schweitzer (@schweitzerakron) February 6, 2019
We take a look at the life of Fair Hooker – before, during, and after his NFL playing career.
The Early Years Through High School
Fair A. Hooker Jr. was born on May 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California.
Hooker attended Monrovia High School in Monrovia, California.
Monrovia is a northeastern suburb of Los Angeles.
In 1965, Hooker started in the Shrine Charity All-Star game for high school players.
After graduating high school, Hooker headed to Tempe, Arizona to attend Arizona State University for college.
College Years
At Arizona State, Hooker lettered in football for three years in 1966, 1967, and 1968.
Arizona State then played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
In a 23-6 Arizona State loss to Wyoming on September 24, 1966, Hooker scored his first touchdown playing varsity college football on a 12-yard pass from Sun Devils quarterback John Goodman.
Hooker scored another touchdown, on a 39-yard pass from John Goodman, in an 18-17 Arizona State loss to Oregon State on October 22, 1966.
Principally playing wingback, Hooker caught 25 passes for 322 yards and the above-described two touchdowns in 1966.
The Sun Devils posted a 5-5 record in 1966.
On November 25, 1967, Hooker caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Sun Devils running back Larry Walton, in a 47-7 Arizona State victory over Arizona.
In 1967, Hooker caught seven passes for 132 yards and the above-described one touchdown.
Arizona State had an 8-2 record in 1967.
In 1967, Hooker contributed to the Sun Devils ranking first among 118 college football teams in points scored, averaging 35.0 points per game.
Arizona State exceeded 40 points in four games in 1967 – a 42-16 win over Wisconsin on September 30, 1967, a 56-23 defeat of New Mexico on October 14, 1967, a 49-32 triumph over Utah on November 4, 1967, and the above-described 47-7 victory over Arizona.
Principally playing split end, Hooker had his best college football season as a senior in 1968.
He led the Sun Devils in receiving in 1968, catching 42 passes for 665 yards and six touchdowns.
He ranked fourth in the WAC in receptions, third in the WAC in receiving yards, and fourth in the WAC in receiving touchdowns, in 1968.
Hooker was named Arizona State’s “Most Valuable Player” in 1968.
In 1968, Arizona State posted an 8-2 record.
Hooker’s play helped the Sun Devils rank second among 119 college football teams in points scored, averaging 41.4 points per game.
Arizona State exceeded 40 points in six games in 1968 – a 55-7 victory over Wisconsin on September 21, 1968, a 41-14 win over Washington State on October 12, 1968, a 63-28 triumph over New Mexico on November 2, 1968, a 59-21 defeat of Utah on November 9, 1968, a 47-12 victory over Brigham Young on November 16, 1968, and a 66-0 shutout of San Jose State on November 23, 1968.
At Arizona State, Hooker also lettered in track.
He ran in the hurdles and was an All-WAC selection.
After completing his college football years with Arizona State, Hooker headed to the NFL.
The Pro Football Years
1969-1971
Hooker was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL draft; he was the 124th overall pick.
Fair Hooker pic.twitter.com/Aacu9dl8JJ
— From Florida, with Love🐬🏝🏖🐬☀️🌴🐬 (@iamthetyson) May 13, 2020
As a rookie in 1969, Hooker (playing at a height of six feet and one inch and at a weight of 190 pounds) played in 13, but did not start any, regular season games.
On September 21, 1969, in Hooker’s first NFL regular season game, Hooker caught his first two NFL regular season passes, in a 27-20 Cleveland win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The two receptions, thrown to Hooker by Browns quarterback Bill Nelsen, were for 12 yards and nine yards.
The two catches against the Eagles were Hooker’s only receptions in 1969.
Cleveland won the NFL Century Division title in 1969, with a 10-3-1 record.
Hooker contributed to the Browns offense ranking in the 1969 NFL regular season third in points scored (351), fifth in total passing and rushing yards (4,428), ninth in passing yards (2,640), tied for second in passing touchdowns (24), third in fewest sacks allowed (20), fifth in rushing yards (1,788), tied for first in rushing touchdowns (17), and tied for sixth in average yards per rushing attempt (4.0).
The Browns first played the Dallas Cowboys in the 1969 NFL playoffs on December 28, 1969.
Hooker played in, but did not start, the game, as Cleveland defeated Dallas 38-14.
The following week, on January 4, 1970, the Browns advanced to the 1969 NFL championship game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Hooker did not play in the game, as Cleveland lost to the Vikings 27-7.
In 1970, Hooker became a regular starter at wide receiver for the Browns.
He played in and started 13 regular season games for Cleveland in 1970.
On September 21, 1970, Hooker caught a 13-yard pass, in a 31-21 Cleveland defeat of the New York Jets.
It was the first game on ABC Monday Night Football, and a comment by broadcaster Don Meredith about Hooker during the game probably brought Hooker more recognition than his one reception.
As described by The New York Times in its December 6, 2010 obituary of Meredith, Meredith said:
“Fair Hooker – I haven’t met one yet.”
“Fair Hooker, that’s a great name, isn’t it? But I haven’t met one yet”
― Don Meredith (born April 10, 1938)During first ever MNF game. pic.twitter.com/sWkCncSU2p
— MacCocktail (Mastodon: @[email protected]) (@MacCocktail) April 10, 2017
Hooker spent the rest of the 1970 season having people focus on his play, in addition to his name.
In the next game, Hooker scored his first NFL regular season touchdown, on an eight-yard pass from Bill Nelsen, in a 34-31 Browns loss to the San Francisco 49ers on September 27, 1970.
Hooker caught four passes for 157 yards, including a 69-yard reception.
For the 1970 regular season, Hooker caught 28 passes for 490 yards and the above-described two touchdowns.
The Browns had a 7-7 record in 1970.
Hooker’s play helped the Cleveland offense rank in the 1970 NFL regular season seventh in total passing and rushing yards (4,161), fifth in passing yards (2,582), second in fewest sacks allowed (16), and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (14).
Hooker probably had his best NFL season in 1971.
He started all 14 regular season games at wide receiver.
In 1971, Hooker had 11 games in which he caught at least three passes.
Fair Hooker touchdown #Browns pic.twitter.com/ClKlBVaY5S
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) May 24, 2021
Hooker led the Browns, catching 45 passes for 649 yards and the above-described one touchdown in the 1971 regular season.
With a 9-5 record, the Browns won the AFC Central Division title in 1971.
With Hooker at wide receiver, the Cleveland offense ranked in the 1971 NFL regular season 10th in points scored (285), ninth in passing yards (2,299), tied for sixth in fewest sacks allowed (22), and tied for third in rushing touchdowns (19).
In the 1971 NFL playoffs, Cleveland played the Baltimore Colts on December 26, 1971.
Hooker started the game and caught a 39-yard pass from Bill Nelsen, but the Browns lost to Baltimore 20-3.
1972-1974
In 1972, Hooker again started all 14 regular season games at wide receiver.
For the 1972 regular season, Hooker caught 32 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns.
With a 10-4 record, Cleveland earned a wildcard playoff berth in 1972.
Fair Hooker on the bottom here pic.twitter.com/L1GoRuHM9L
— Raiderjoe (@Raiderjoe_FO) March 11, 2021
The Browns advanced to play the undefeated Miami Dolphins in a wildcard playoff game on December 24, 1972.
Hooker, who caught three passes for 53 yards, made two key plays in the fourth quarter.
First, Hooker recovered a fumble by Miami defensive back Dick Anderson, who had intercepted a Mike Phipps pass.
Second, after the fumble recovery, Hooker caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Mike Phipps to give the Browns a 14-13 lead over the Dolphins.
However, Miami scored a touchdown and defeated Cleveland 20-14.
Hooker, in 1973, played in and started 13 regular season games at wide receiver.
Insert your own Don Meredith jokes here…
Cleveland's Fair Hooker hauls in a TD catch over Willie Brown, Week 10 1973. Hooker's catch was the only TD of the day at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, allowing the #Browns to walk away with a hard fought 7-3 win. pic.twitter.com/EPGHwNrtKu
— Ken Gelman (@kengfunk) March 1, 2018
Hooker caught 18 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in the 1973 regular season.
The Browns posted a 7-5-2 record in 1973, but failed to make the playoffs.
Fair Hooker #Browns pic.twitter.com/w9HRHh6k6Z
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 2, 2020
In 1974, Hooker’s playing time and role as a starter was adversely affected by injury, as he only played in seven, and started three, regular season games at wide receiver.
In the 1974 regular season, Hooker caught the four passes for 48 yards and one touchdown.
The Browns had a 4-10 record in 1974.
Hooker contributed to the Cleveland offense ranking in the 1974 NFL regular season tied for fifth in average yards per rushing attempt (4.2).
On March 5, 1975, the Browns released Hooker.
Although he was later acquired by both the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos, Hooker never played in another regular season game in the NFL.
The Years After the NFL
After his retirement from the NFL, Hooker worked as an assistant vice president for Bank of America in Pasadena, California.
Hooker is not the first Cleveland Browns player to have a unique name.
Brad Smelley, Frostee Rucker, Ebenezer Ekuban, and Barkevious Mingo are among the other Cleveland Browns players who had memorable names.
While there is a natural tendency to focus on Hooker’s name, Browns fans should not lose sight of Hooker’s fine play.
Over his six seasons with Cleveland from 1969 to 1974, Hooker caught 129 regular season passes (which ranks 39th in Browns career regular season receptions) for 1,845 regular season yards (which ranks 33rd in Browns career regular season receiving yards) and eight regular season touchdowns (which ranks tied for 44th in Browns career regular season receiving touchdowns).
If not for injury, Hooker would have played longer and accumulated higher statistical numbers.
He was only 27 when he played his last NFL regular season game.
In addition, if Hooker’s touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the December 24, 1972 wildcard playoff game had been the game-winning, instead of game-leading, score, he would receive more recognition today, as Cleveland’s win over the undefeated Dolphins would have been one of the biggest upsets in Browns playoff history.
Nevertheless, Hooker had a key role on the Browns.
The 1971 and 1972 Cleveland teams were the last Browns teams to make the playoffs in consecutive years, other than the 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 Cleveland teams.
Hooker’s pass receptions helped the Browns win many games in 1971 and 1972 on their way to the playoffs in these two years.
For his solid play over six seasons with the Browns, Fair Hooker should be remembered by Cleveland fans as performing much better than a “fair” receiver with a humorous name.
NEXT: What Happened To Mike Junkin? (Complete Story)
Hooker was good. He was extremely fast, great hands. Unfortunately, the Browns had some issues at Quarterback. Bill Nelsen was in the twilight of his career, Hobbled w. Knee injuries and Mike Phipps was not a top-flight QB. Hence, Hooker played the hand that was dealt to him and did an admirable job for the Browns for his time there. He’d be a household name at that time had he played for the Steelers, Raiders, Dolphins etc . He was good.