| Joel Hilgenberg | |
| Number: | 61 |
| Position: | Center |
| Birth Date: | 10 July 1962 |
| Birth Place: | Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 3 |
| Weight Lb: | 250 |
| High School: | Iowa City (Iowa) |
| College: | Iowa |
| Draftyear: | 1984 |
| Draftround: | 4 |
| Draftpick: | 94 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Pastcoaching: |
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| Highlights: |
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| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 142 |
| Statlabel2: | Games started |
| Statvalue2: | 97 |
| Statlabel3: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue3: | 4 |
| Pfr: | HilbJo00 |
Joel C. Hilgenberg (born July 10, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL).
Hilgenberg was born in Iowa City, Iowa and played scholastically at Iowa City High School.[1] He played collegiately at Iowa, where he was a two-time All-Big 10 selection, and a second-team All-American as a senior.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Hilgenberg was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL draft.[6] He spent ten years with the Saints, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1992.[1] [2] Hilgenberg was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2006, and was selected as one of the greatest 50 players in franchise history in 2016.[7]
He is the brother of former center Jay Hilgenberg, and the nephew of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Wally Hilgenberg; the brothers were teammates on the Saints in 1993.[8] [9]
Hilgenberg was offensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers in 2011, and assistant offensive line coach for 2012-13. He resigned his coaching position in April 2014.[10]