NFF National Scholar-Athletes

Hugh Millen

  • School
    Washington
  • Induction
    1985
Beginning as a walk-on quarterback for College Football Hall of Fame coach Don James at Washington, Hugh Millen was awarded the Brian Stapp Memorial Award as the most inspirational non-letterman in 1983. He evolved into a two-year starting quarterback and co-captain who led the team in total offense and passing yards in 1984 and 1985. Millen led the Huskies to an 18-6 record and victories in the 1985 Orange Bowl and 1985 Freedom Bowl. In the 1985 Orange Bowl, he came off the bench in the fourth quarter and tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass that gave Washington a 21-17 lead over Oklahoma with 8:39 left to play.

Millen completed 249-of-439 passes for 2,657 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. He ranks seventh in school history in career completion percentage (56.7); eighth in career pass attempts per game (22); ninth in career completions per game (12.5) and single-season completion percentage (59.8); 10th in career passing yards per game (132.9); 11th in single-season pass attempts per game (29.3) and 12th in single-season completions per game (17.6). An Academic All-America and Academic All-Pac-10 selection, he received the 101 Club Scholarship Award as the team’s top scholar athlete. Millen compiled a 3.44 GPA as a business major.

Millen was selected in the third round (71st overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and missed most of his first two seasons due to injury. He was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 1988 season, and he threw for 215 yards in three games that season. Millen totaled 1,074 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons with the Falcons. He signed with New England in 1991 and served as the primary starter, throwing for 3,073 yards and nine touchdowns. Millen led all Patriot quarterbacks with 1,203 passing yards and eight touchdown passes in 1992. He played his final two seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, throwing for 1,090 yards with three touchdown passes.

Millen completed 560-of-928 passes for 6,440 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career. He currently works as a football analyst for KJR-AM radio and KCPQ television in Seattle.