Major Hazelton (born September 19, 1943) is a former professional football player. He played for the Chicago Bears after being drafted from FAMU where he was a football and track star. He went to Union Academy, a high school for African Americans in

Bartow, Florida Bartow ( ) is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow, the first brigade commander of the Confederate Army to die in combat during the American C ...

established during the segregation era. The school produced several star FAMU and NFL players, especially during

Claude Woodruff Claude E. Woodruff (died June 15, 2009) was a U.S. marine, college football player and head coach, as well as an assistant football and assistant track coach at various high schools in Central Florida including Union Academy in Bartow, Florida. P ...

era. Hazelton played professionally as a 6'2" defensive back after being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 3rd round (57th overall) during the 1968 NFL Draft. He played in 26 NFL games, starting in two. In college, he played football under legendary coach, Alonzo A. S. Gaither. He earned All-American honors as a defensive back in 1966 and 1967. In addition to football, Hazelton was a star track athlete and was a member of Florida A & M University's 4x100 relay team that won this event three years in a row (1966-68) at the Penn Relays. He is a member of Florida A & M University's Hall of Fame in both football and track and field.

References

1944 births Living people Sportspeople from Bartow, Florida Players of American football from Florida Florida A&M Rattlers track and field athletes American male sprinters Chicago Bears players New Orleans Saints players American football defensive backs Florida A&M Rattlers football players Track and field athletes in the National Football League {{defensiveback-1940s-stub