Howton attended Plainview High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field.

Howton played college football at Rice Institute in Houston,^[5] where he was nicknamed "Red Fox" not only for his hair color, but also for the way he ran pass patterns, which made him a great offensive end, establishing a season record for average yards (22.6) on pass receptions.

At the 1948 track and field regional meet in Lubbock, he had a time of 14.3 in the high hurdle event, setting a record that stood for several decades. In 1951, he won the high hurdle event in a track meet against the Texas A&M Aggies. He was also a notable runner in the low hurdles.

In 1951, he finished his college football career with 64 catches for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns, on his way to earn the following honors:

• All-America.
• Southwest Conference MVP.
• All-SWC team.
• Won the George Martin Award for the second straight year (he also won it in 1950), which is given to Rice's most valuable football player.
• Played in the East–West Shrine Game.
• Played in the College All-Star Game in Chicago in August 1952.

In 1971, he was inducted into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame.

Green Bay Packers edit

Howton was selected in the second round of the 1952 NFL Draft, 15th overall, by the Green Bay Packers. As a rookie, he earned immediate comparisons with Hall of Famer Don Hutson, with his speed, sure hands, and big-play ability. He established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, with a league-leading 1,231 receiving yards.^[5] He also set a rookie record with 13 touchdowns, which would last until 1965 when the total number was broken by Gale Sayers. His touchdown reception mark lasted until 1998, when it was broken by Randy Moss.

Howton became one of the most successful wide receivers in Packers history, while playing seven seasons in losing teams (26–56–2). During his seven years in Green Bay, he led his teams in receiving yards for six straight seasons (1952–57), led the league in receiving yards two times (1952 and 1956) and touchdown receptions once (1956). He caught 303 passes for 5,581 yards with an 18.4 yard average, scored 43 touchdowns and earned All-Pro in two seasons (1956–57) and Pro Bowl honors in four seasons (1952 and 1955–57).^[6]

He caught 13 touchdown passes in his 1952 rookie season. In his fifth season in 1956, Howton caught seven passes for a total of 257 yards against the Los Angeles Rams.

He set team records that still stand today:

• Most receiving yards by a rookie with 1,231 yards in 1952
• Highest yardage game with 257 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956.
• Two 200-plus receiving games - the only Packer receiver aside from Don Hutson, with four, to have more than one.

Howton was named the Packers' player representative and president of the NFL Players Association in 1958, and played a major role in establishing a pension fund for players, which was a debated topic with club owners at the time.

In January 1959, the Packers hired Vince Lombardi as head coach and general manager after the team's worst record ever (1–10–1) in 1958. In April, Lombardi traded Howton to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Bill Quinlan and halfback Lew Carpenter.^[7][8][9] Lombardi desired receivers who could block, which was not Howton's strength.^[1][10]

Through the years, there has been speculation that his NFL Players Association ties were the real reason behind the trade.

Howton was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974.^[11]

Cleveland Browns edit

Howton played only one season in Cleveland, leading the team in receptions with 39, and experiencing what would be the only winning campaign of his NFL career. At the start of the 1960 season, he notified the Browns his intentions to retire.

The expansion Dallas Cowboys convinced him to play in his home state and traded a draft choice to the Browns in exchange for his rights.

Dallas Cowboys edit

Howton was acquired by the expansion Dallas Cowboys in 1960. That season the Cowboys recorded only a tie, which came against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium on December 4, when a late touchdown pass from Eddie LeBaron to Howton finalized a 31–31 comeback, against a team that had made championship game appearances in three of the previous four years. Following the season, Howton signed a three-year contract.^[12]

The first win in franchise history came during the 1961 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27–24, with Howton contributing a game-high 138 receiving yards and a touchdown.

During his time with the Cowboys, Howton remained a key starter in a league-leading offense, that was composed by Eddie LeBaron, Don Meredith, Don Perkins, Frank Clarke, Dick Bielski, and Lee Folkins. He led the Cowboys in receiving in 1961 (with a career-high of 56 catches) and again in 1962.

On September 29, 1963, Howton became the NFL's all-time receiving leader, after breaking Don Hutson's record for career receptions and receiving yards. He retired after the season ended.^[13]

Howton left the league after 12 seasons with 503 catches, 8,459 yards and 61 touchdowns. Howton was also the top receiver from those players in the 1952 NFL draft, which included future Hall of Famers such as Frank Gifford, Ollie Matson, and Hugh McElhenny. Howton was tied for fourth all-time in touchdowns with Pete Pihos. Of the six players with at least 60 receiving touchdowns in 1963, only Howton is not in the Hall of Fame. Howton has never named a semifinalist for the Hall in a half-century since being eligible.^[14] Raymond Berry, who passed him as the all-time leader in receptions and touchdowns years after Howton retired, later stated, "I'll tell you a guy who is overlooked is Billy Howton. He was extremely professional in his pass routes. He knew what he was doing to maneuver and fake to get open. He would be effective going inside, going outside, effective going deep. He was an extremely dangerous receiver and had great technique."^[15]

In the first meeting of player representatives in December 1956, Howton was the representative present for the Packers, attending each meeting from 1956 to 1961 (one of three to attend all of those meetings) and serving as the first NFLPA President from 1958 to 1961. It was he who delivered an ultimatum to the owners in 1959 that led to the establishment of the NFL Player Retirement Plan rather than see the NFLPA deliver an antitrust suit to them. He later served as a representative of retired players at meetings and was also on the pension committee until 1970.^[16]