Selected in the third round out of Stanford in 1977, Tony Hill was a smooth, long-striding athlete who earned his stripes on special teams. Used primarily as a punt returner during his rookie campaign, Hill logged a minor role on offense, but he walked away with a championship ring following Dallas's victory over Denver in Super Bowl XII.

He stepped into the starting lineup the very next season and never looked back. Possessing rare deep speed and elite tracking ability, Hill quickly won over head coach Tom Landry, who dubbed him the offense's "home run hitter" for his uncanny knack for blowing top-covers off opposing secondaries. Hill validated that confidence in 1978 by pulling down 46 passes for 823 yards and six touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and helping lead Dallas to an appearance in Super Bowl XIII.

His breakout campaign sparked a dominant era for the Dallas passing game. In 1979, Hill hauled in 60 receptions for 1,062 yards and ten touchdowns. Paired alongside Drew Pearson and Tony Dorsett, Hill helped the Cowboys make history as the first NFL offense to boast two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher in the same season. He backed that up in 1980 with another 1,055-yard, eight-touchdown showcase, cementing his status as Roger Staubach's and later Danny White's premier downfield weapon.

Hill remained the cornerstone of the receiving corps through the mid-1980s, producing high-volume output even as defenders rolled coverage heavily toward his side. His individual peak arrived in 1985, when he set career highs with 74 receptions for 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns, earning his third Pro Bowl selection. Across his decade in silver and navy, Hill recorded three 1,000-yard seasons and served as the steady big-play threat that bridged the Landry dynasty into its late era.

Hill was waived after the 1986 season. With Dallas, Hill secured 479 receptions, 7,988 receiving yards, and 51 receiving touchdowns.