Questions about Jim Hardy or the Cardinals?
Jim Hardy Legacy
HEYTC AIJim Hardy Rating Breakdown
Jim Hardy Career Stats via Wikipedia
Jim Hardy Career Timeline
HEYTC AI1955 1
Released by Cardinals
After 3 years with the Cardinals, Hardy was released, effectively ending his NFL career at age 28 with 2,065 passing yards, 16 TDs, and 31 INTs over 46 games.
1954 1
Playoff Appearance with Cardinals
Started for the Cardinals in their 1954 NFL playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns, completing 9 of 20 passes for 62 yards in a 10-3 defeat.
1952 2
Pro Bowl Selection
Earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1952 after a solid debut season with the Cardinals, completing 52.6% of passes for 1,296 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Signed with Chicago Cardinals
Hardy joined the Chicago Cardinals, playing 3 years (1952-1954) and appearing in 36 games with 1,713 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.
1949 2
Traded to Detroit Lions
Shortly after being drafted, Hardy was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played for 1 year as a backup quarterback.
Drafted by Washington Redskins
Jim Hardy was selected in the 3rd round (32nd overall pick) of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins after a standout college career at USC.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jim Hardy
How does Kyler Murray compare to Jim Hardy?
Jim Hardy owns a chunk of Cardinals lore with 5,690 yards and 54 TDs over seven bruising seasons, while Kyler Murray's still scripting his story as the current gunslinger—think Hardy's era of leather helmets versus Kyler's no-look lasers in a dome. Hardy's the guy fans whisper about from black-and-white reels; Murray's chasing that same desert immortality, one MVP buzz at a time.
Is Jim Hardy in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Nope, Jim Hardy's not in Canton—never made the cut despite that 1950 Pro Bowl nod and being the oldest living one for a stretch till he passed in 2019. He's etched in infamy for chucking eight picks in one game against the Eagles, a nightmare stat line that haunts highlight reels more than Hall arguments.
How would Jim Hardy perform in today's NFL?
Hardy's arm—54 TDs against 73 picks in a run-first league—might feast under today's pass-happy rules with better protection and no face masks slicing you up. That USC polish and Rams/Cardinals grit could translate to a solid backup carving niches, though his 53.1 rating screams "era adjustment needed" in this no-huddle world.
How does Jim Hardy compare to Jim Hart?
Both Cardinals signal-callers, but Jim Hart lapped Hardy with a 34.49 rating to Hardy's gritty 15.08 over fewer seasons—Hart slung it deep in the '70s, while Hardy battled in the gritty '40s/'50s, infamous for that eight-pick debacle. Hart's the polished successor; Hardy's the tough pioneer who took more lumps.