{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = | caption = | image_size = | position = Placekicker | number = 4, 5, 9 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|7|15}} | birth_place = West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | undraftedyear = 2000 | high_school = Boonville {{avoid wrap|(Boonville, Indiana)}} | college = Louisville | teams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2000}})* * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2000}})* * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2001}})* * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2001}}) * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2002}})* * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2002}}) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 9 | statlabel2 = Field goals | statvalue2 = 11 | statlabel3 = Field goal attempts | statvalue3 = 18 | statlabel4 = Field goal % | statvalue4 = 61.1 | statlabel5 = Longest field goal | statvalue5 = 43 | pfr = H/hilbejon01 }}
'''Jonathan Samuel Hilbert''' (born July 15, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.
==Early years== Hilbert attended Boonville High School in Boonville, Indiana. As a senior, he averaged 43.9 yards-per-punt, receiving All-state, All-conference and All-area honors.
==College career== Hilbert accepted a football scholarship from the University of Louisville. After not seeing action in 1994, he spent the 1995 season rehabilitating a knee injury. As a freshman in 1996, he made his only extra point attempt, while being a backup behind David Akers.
As a sophomore, he was named the starter at placekicker after Akers graduated, making 6-of-7 field goal attempts and 23-of-24 extra point attempts. As a junior, he set a school record by making 50 extra point attempts, while connecting on 5-of-8 field goal attempts and scoring 65 points (third on the team).
As a senior, he made 11-of-18 field goals and 40-of-43 extra points, finishing with 73 points (second on the team).
==Professional career==
===Dallas Cowboys (first stint)=== Hilbert was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2000 NFL draft on April 17. He was released in July.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://247sports.com/nfl/chicago-bears/Article/Could-Edinger-get-the-Boot-104034649/ | title=Could Edinger get the Boot? | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>
===Buffalo Bills=== On July 31, 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. On August 21, after not being able to pass incumbent Steve Christie on the depth chart.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/22/sports/nfl-transactions.html | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>
===New Orleans Saints=== On March 28, 2001, he was signed as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints. On August 28, he was released after losing the kicking competition against John Carney.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/29/sports/transactions-922358.html | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>
===Dallas Cowboys (second stint)=== On November 13, 2001, Hilbert was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He kicked in eight games while replacing an injured Tim Seder, who was out for the season.<ref name="hilbert">{{cite web| url=http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1434497.html | title=Kasay could miss season | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> He wasn't re-signed at the end of the year.
===Chicago Bears=== On March, 14, 2002, he was signed by the Chicago Bears, but was released on August 25, when they decided to keep incumbent kicker Paul Edinger.<ref name="hilbert"/>
===Carolina Panthers=== On September 19, 2002, the Carolina Panthers signed Hilbert to their practice squad.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1433839.html | title=Panthers sign Hilbert in case Kasay can't play | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> He was later elevated to the active roster after they lost starting kicker John Kasay due to hernia surgery.<ref name="Two Misses">{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/30/sports/pro-football-almost-is-not-good-enough-for-panthers.html | title=Almost Is Not Good Enough For Panthers | access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> After missing two field goals in a game versus the Minnesota Vikings and not kicking well in practice, Hilbert was replaced by kicker Shayne Graham and waived on September 27.<ref name="Two Misses"/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilbert, Jon}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:People from Boonville, Indiana Category:Players of American football from Indiana Category:American football placekickers Category:Louisville Cardinals football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:Carolina Panthers players