James Francis Hardy (April 24, 1923 – August 16, 2019)[1] was an American football quarterback. He was born in Los Angeles.

Jim Hardy

Hardy on a 1948 Bowman football card
No. 21, 22, 1
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1923-04-24)April 24, 1923 Los Angeles, California
Died:	August 16, 2019(2019-08-16) (aged 96) La Quinta, California
Career information
College:	USC
NFL Draft:	1945 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 (By the Washington Redskins)
Career history
Los Angeles Rams (1946–1948) Chicago Cardinals (1949–1951) Detroit Lions (1952)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (1950) NFL record Most interceptions thrown in an NFL game: 8 (1950)
Career NFL statistics
TDs–INTs: 54-73 Passing yards: 5,690 Passer rating: 53.1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

High school career

Hardy attended and played high school football at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.

College career

Hardy played college football at the University of Southern California. He was voted most valuable player of the 1945 Rose Bowl game, won by USC 25-0 over Tennessee.

Professional career

Hardy was drafted in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1945 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played in the National Football League between 1946 and 1952. He made the Pro 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 the Philadelphia Eagles on September 24, 1950.[2][3]

He later served as the general manager of the Los 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 1946 Los Angeles Rams.[5]

References