Kent Hull was a legendary center for the Buffalo Bills, who played a key role in the team’s four consecutive AFC championships in the early 1990s. He was also a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the Bills Wall of Fame. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
The life and career of Kent Hull
Kent Hull was born on January 13, 1961, in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He attended Greenwood High School and then Mississippi State University, where he earned four football letters as the Bulldogs’ center from 1979 to 1982.
He started his professional career in the United States Football League (USFL), playing for the New Jersey Generals from 1983 to 1985. He blocked for star running back Herschel Walker, who set the pro football record for rushing yards in a single season with 2,411 in 1985.
He joined the Buffalo Bills in 1986, along with his Generals teammate Jim Kelly, who became the Bills’ franchise quarterback. Hull became Kelly’s trusted center and the leader of the Bills’ offensive line, which ran the no-huddle “K-Gun” offense.
Hull helped the Bills win six AFC East titles and reach four Super Bowls from 1990 to 1993, although they lost all four. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times (1988-1990) and the All-Pro team four times (1988-1991). He also earned a spot on the Bills 50th Anniversary Team and the Bills Wall of Fame.
Hull retired after the 1996 season, along with Kelly. He played 170 games for the Bills, starting 169 of them. He also appeared in 121 consecutive games, showing his toughness and durability.
The death and legacy of Kent Hull
Hull died at his home in Greenwood, Mississippi, on October 18, 2011. He was 50 years old. The cause of death was announced as a gastrointestinal bleed stemming from chronic liver disease, a condition that he had been battling for some time.
Hull’s death shocked and saddened his former teammates, coaches, and fans. He was remembered for his grit, quick-thinking, and leadership on and off the field. He was also praised for his humility, generosity, and kindnes.
Hull is survived by his wife, Kay, and two children, Drew and Ellen. He was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Greenwood.
Hull’s legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of the Bills’ faithful, who consider him one of the greatest players in the team’s history. He is also regarded as one of the best centers of his era and a worthy candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
