 Hickey playing for Maryland in 1964 | |||||||||||||
| No. 33, 31, 35, 20 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1945-10-07)October 7, 1945 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | February 28, 2023(2023-02-28) (aged 77) Connecticut, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Stamford Catholic | ||||||||||||
| College | Maryland (1963-1965) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1967: 14th round, 357th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career AFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Thomas Henry "Bo"Hickey (October 7, 1945 – February 28, 2023) was an American professionalfootball player who was afullback for theDenver Broncos of theAmerican Football League (AFL). He playedcollege football for theMaryland Terrapins.
Hickey was born and grew up inStamford, Connecticut and attendedStamford Catholic High School, where he played football, baseball, basketball and ran track. He was named All-Fairfield County and All-State in football as a senior.[1]
Hickey spent two seasons at theUniversity of Maryland, sitting out his freshman year as freshmen were ineligible to play varsity sports at the time. He became theTerrapins' starting running back as a sophomore and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after leading the team with 894 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns while catching 11 passes for 94 yards.[2] Hickey was academically ineligible to return to Maryland for his junior season.[3]
After failing out of Maryland, Hickey signed a contract with theMontreal Alouettes of theCanadian Football League. He played in several exhibition games in 1965 but did not make the team. Hickey was then signed by theBrooklyn Dodgers of theminor leagueContinental Football League, where he was coached byPro Football Hall of Famer and Stamford nativeAndy Robustelli, and finished sixth in the league with 551 rushing yards on 135 carries along with eight touchdowns.[4]
Hickey was selected in the 14th round of the1967 NFL/AFL draft by theSt. Louis Cardinals.[1] Hickey was cut by the Cardinals during training camp but was signed by theDenver Broncos on September 9, 1967.[5] He played in 12 games for the Broncos, rushing 73 times for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns while also catching 7 passes for 36 yards and another touchdown before breaking his foot late in the season against theNew York Jets.[6] Hickey was released by the Broncos on July 23, 1968 after failing his physical.[7] After his release Hickey returned to minor league football and played three seasons for the Westchester (and later Long Island) Bulls of theAtlantic Coast Football League.[1]
After retiring from football he became an assistant football coach atStaples High School before joining the coaching staff atNew Canaan High School. He later also became the school's head ice hockey coach, holding the position for 20 years. Hickey worked as the superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery inNew Canaan, Connecticut for 34 years until his retirement in 2015.[8]
Hickey died in Connecticut on February 28, 2023, at the age of 77.[9]