Ike Hilliard Starts New Chapter as Receivers Coach in UFL

On Sunday night, October 19, 2008, Ike Hilliard fell awkwardly to the turf at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill had sandwiched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' slim wide receiver near his head, as if trying to make him disappear into the thin fall air.

Still, Hilliard, a man with a history of neck injuries, was the luckiest man in the stadium.

You see, the 12-year NFL veteran wasn't supposed to be on the field that day. Hilliard's career, in fact, wasn't to last past its rookie season.

"I had a neck fusion year one of my NFL career, and [the doctors] weren't encouraged that I'd be able to play," said the 33-year-old Hilliard, who now is the wide receivers coach for the UFL's Florida Tuskers.

"Then, I played 11 more seasons."

Hilliard now is taking a different route, teaching the game to receivers not far his junior, immersing himself in coaching, a job he always has coveted.

"It's a humbling experience," said Hilliard, who caught 546 passes for 6,397 yards and 35 TDs in his NFL career. "It allows me to put my own spin on what goes on. I've always wanted to coach."

But why now?

"Too much injury risk [to keep playing]," he said before explaining his connection to the Tuskers.

A member of the New York Giants from 1997-2004, Hilliard then spent four years with Tampa Bay, where he was coached by offensive assistant Jay Gruden.

After the departure of his brother, Jon, the Bucs' head coach, Jay left to run the Tuskers' offense. And Hilliard, once he decided to hang up his playing cleats, was able to capitalize on that relationship.

"I was lucky enough to know Jay Gruden for the last four years," he said. "I came in and it's gone relatively well so far. I'm transitioning so quickly."

Those that follow the NFL, and a future Hall of Fame quarterback that shall remain nameless (it starts with an F and ends in -avre), know that a football player's future is never set in stone.

After recovering from the aforementioned vicious hit to play the rest of last season, Hilliard considered returning this campaign with the Atlanta Falcons, who needed depth at receiver.

"I went up to Atlanta after [Falcons second-year wide receiver Harry Douglas] got hurt," Hilliard said of the injury that occurred during training camp. "But I decided to take a pass and not play.

"I still have that competitive juice, but I know I'm done. I haven't officially retired yet, but I will at some point this season."

In the meantime, Hilliard hopes to use his UFL experience -- like many of the league's players -- as a stepping stone. He wants to coach in college or the NFL, calling this season a "segue to bigger and better things going forward."

A favorite of coach Steve Spurrier as a college star at Florida, Hilliard also has a strong relationship with his former coach with the Giants, Jim Fassel, who is the current head man with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives.

Hilliard, needless to say, has enough contacts. He also has perspective, reminiscing about his lone Super Bowl appearance with the 2000 Giants ("A great run in my career") and marveling at how tough it is to succeed in the NFL ("I'm so appreciative of what the Patriots have done.")

For now, though, Hilliard is focused on helping the Tuskers' receivers, who have combined with quarterback Brooks Bollinger and running backs Michael Pittman and Tatum Bell to form the UFL's most explosive offense.

In the early season, Florida has leaned on receiver Taye Biddle -- a former teammate of Hilliard -- who spent time on Tampa Bay's practice squad. Hilliard also played with Pittman and Tuskers receiver Chas Gessner.

But Brett ... err ... Ike, why won't you suit up alongside those peers again?

"I'm married with kids," Hilliard said. "So, it was that big hit against Seattle on that Sunday night that helped me realize ... too much risk."

What a lucky guy.