| abstract | - William Ernest "Bill" Hewitt (October 8, 1909 – January 14, 1947) was a professional American football player in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Chicago Bears (1932-1936), three for the Philadelphia Eagles (1937-1939), and one for the Phil-Pitt Steagles (1943). He is probably most remembered for his refusal to wear a helmet as the last NFL player not to wear one. He attended the University of Michigan. Hewitt died in a car crash in 1947. Hewitt was traded to the Eagles with $4,000 in cash from the Bears in exchange for the rights to the first overall selection in the 1937 NFL Draft, Sam Francis, on February 15, 1937. Hewitt's game salary increased from $100 per game to $200 per game following the trade. Hewitt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
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