 Hardy circa 1946 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21, 22, 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1923-04-24)April 24, 1923 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Died | August 16, 2019(2019-08-16) (aged 96) La Quinta, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| College | USC | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1945: 1st round, 8th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
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James Francis Hardy (April 24, 1923 – August 16, 2019)[1] was an American professionalfootballquarterback who played seven seasons in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedCollege Football atUSC and was selected by theLos Angeles Rams in the first round of the1945 NFL draft.
Hardy attended and playedhigh school football atFairfax High School in Los Angeles.
Hardy playedcollege football at theUniversity of Southern California. He was voted most valuable player of the1945 Rose Bowl game, won byUSC 25–0 overTennessee.
Hardy was selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the1945 NFL draft by theWashington Redskins. He played in theNational Football League between 1946 and 1952. He made thePro Bowl in 1950. Hardy is perhaps most famous for throwing an NFL-record eight interceptions in a single game, as well as for the worst touchdown pass-interception differential in a single game (−8), in a 45–7 loss to thePhiladelphia Eagles on September 24, 1950.[2][3]
He later served as the general manager of theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum.[4] In September 2016, Hardy was interviewed and reflected upon his career in the NFL. Prior to his death, Hardy was the oldest living member of the inaugural 1946Los Angeles Rams.[5]