Hill was chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) when it succeeded in 1961 in scrapping players' maximum salaries, which at the time were capped at 20 pounds a week, to stave off a threatened strike. The move paved the way for the huge sums top professionals earn today.
He also championed the idea of awarding teams three points for a win instead of two to encourage more attacking play, which the English Football Association embraced in 1981.
His family said Hill had died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
"In many ways, Jimmy Hill was football," Greg Dyke, the Football Association chairman said in a statement.
During his 11-year playing career Hill represented London clubs Brentford and Fulham. He went on to become manager of Coventry City, taking them from the third tier of English football to the top flight, and was chairman of Coventry and Fulham.
A distinctive figure with a sharp chin and dark beard, he later moved into broadcasting and became a household name in Britain as the host of BBC TV's football highlights show "Match of the Day". He was credited with revolutionising TV match analysis and bringing in expert pundits to scrutinise matches in depth.
Tributes poured in from ex-players, clubs and fans across England.
"He was a successful player, a great manager at Coventry City and changed the game as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association," FA chairman Dyke said.
"He was a popular presenter, a hugely influential figure and, such was his style, he was loved by millions – even among those who didn’t follow football. He was a true great of the game."
Former England striker Alan Shearer wrote on Twitter: "Footballers and football have so much to thank him for. A man who loved the game."
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Stephen Powell)
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