Early years

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Hunter graduated from Vigor High School in Prichard. He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he set numerous passing records under coach Bear Bryant. After Hunter left, the Crimson Tide switched to the run-oriented Wishbone offense in 1971.

Pro career

Hunter was selected in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, the 140th overall pick. He was chosen by the Packers because of his similarities in pedigree with the aging Green Bay legend Bart Starr. Hunter played most of the 1972 season, leading the Packers to their last divisional title until the Brett Favre era. Hunter played for eight seasons in the NFL.

As a rookie, Hunter started ten games for the Packers in 1971, and completed 75 passes in 163 attempts, with seven touchdowns against seventeen interceptions. Though he again had more interceptions than touchdown passes, Hunter showed signs of improvement in 1972, leading a run-oriented offense and Green Bay to a 10-4 record, their first division title and playoff appearance since 1967. He regressed the next year, and started only five games, replaced by Jerry Tagge. After signing a multi-year deal in May 1974, Hunter was traded in July to the Buffalo Bills, where he was the back-up to Joe Ferguson. He never started a game for the Bills, and made only one appearance during the entire season. He was waived during the 1975 training camp and did not play in the NFL that season.

Hunter's career was given new life in Atlanta in 1976. With the previous year's top draft pick Steve Bartkowski benched, Hunter started six games. For the first time in his career, he threw more touchdowns that interceptions, with 8 TD's and 6 picks. Hunter started seven games in 1977, until Bartkowski returned from knee surgery and took over as the full-time starter. Hunter was released after the season, and did not play in the NFL in 1978. His last season in the NFL was 1979 with the Detroit Lions, where he backed up Gary Danielson and Jeff Komlo, then was released after the season.

For his NFL career, Hunter completed 335 of 748 passes for 4,756 yards, with 23 touchdown passes and 38 interceptions.

After football

Hunter returned to Alabama and worked as a sportscaster in Mobile for nearly two decades, then as an investment broker.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]