Kevin Hardy (defensive tackle)

Kevin Hardy
No. 86, 73, 80
Born:	July 28, 1945; Oakland, California, U.S.
Died:	May 6, 2024 (aged 78); Danville, California, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)	Defensive tackle
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	276 lb (125 kg)
College	Notre Dame
NFL draft	1968, round: 1, pick: 7
Drafted by	New Orleans Saints
Career history
As player
1968	San Francisco 49ers
1970	Green Bay Packers
1971–1972	San Diego Chargers
Career highlights and awards
	2× National champion (1964, 1966); First-team All-American (1967); Second-team All-American (1966); Third-team All-American (1964);
Career stats
	Playing stats at NFL.com;

Kevin Thomas Hardy (July 28, 1945 – May 6, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (7th pick overall) of the 1968 NFL draft. He was an All-American out of Notre Dame where he also lettered in basketball and baseball.^[1]

Hardy played in the NFL for four seasons and never for the team that drafted him. He was sent along with a 1969 first-round selection (7th overall–Ted Kwalick) as part of a compensation package to the San Francisco 49ers as a result of the Saints signing free agent Dave Parks. This was the second of only four times the NFL exercised the Rozelle rule.^[2]^[3] He appeared in most games during these seasons but was unable to force his way into the starting lineup.

In September 1970, the 49ers traded Hardy to Green Bay in exchange for a second-round pick in the 1971 NFL draft. In June 1972, Green Bay traded Hardy to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 1972.

Hardy was a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. He died in Danville, California on May 6, 2024, at the age of 78.^[4]^[5]

References

^ Becnel, George (2009). When the Saints Came Marching in: What the New Orleans NFL Franchise Did Wrong (and Sometimes Right) in Its Expansion Years. AuthorHouse. p. 54. ISBN 9781438991870. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
^ Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) – Justia.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^ 1969 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 28 (Rounds 1–12) & 29 (Rounds 13–17) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^ Football All-American And Three-Sport Star Kevin Hardy Passes Away
^ Kevin Thomas Hardy

External links

Kevin Hardy – Sports-Reference.com college basketball player profile
Kevin Hardy at Pro-Football-Reference.com

This biographical article relating to an American football defensive lineman born in the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Becnel2009-1] Becnel, George (2009). When the Saints Came Marching in: What the New Orleans NFL Franchise Did Wrong (and Sometimes Right) in Its Expansion Years. AuthorHouse. p. 54. ISBN 9781438991870. Retrieved June 8, 2016.

[2] Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) – Justia.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.

[3] 1969 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 28 (Rounds 1–12) & 29 (Rounds 13–17) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 11, 2023.

[4] Football All-American And Three-Sport Star Kevin Hardy Passes Away

[5] Kevin Thomas Hardy

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