All-Time Cardinals QBs Ranked: Warner #1, Hart #2

Jim Hardy

Retired 4 Years In The NFL
🏆 NFL champion (1952)
Jim's
HAIR
15.1
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Jim Hardy or the Cardinals?

Jim Hardy Legacy

HEYTC AI
Jim Hardy was the gunslinging captain of USC's golden era, torching foes with three TD passes in a 29-0 '44 Rose Bowl rout of Washington before snagging MVP with two more throws and a scamper in the '45 shutout of Tennessee—five aerial scores that etched a Rose Bowl record. Eighth overall pick in '45, he quarterbacked the Rams' inaugural L.A. squad, earned a Pro Bowl nod, and hoisted the '52 NFL title with Detroit. Yet his legend peaks in infamy: eight picks in one game versus the Eagles, an unbreakable nightmare, followed by six TDs the next week. Jim Hardy passed in 2019 at 96, his Trojan fire undimmed.
Jim Hardy passed away on August 16, 2019 at the age of 96.

Jim Hardy Rating Breakdown

Season
Subpar
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
3 years with the Cardinals

Jim Hardy Career Stats via Wikipedia

5,690 Pass Yards
54 Touchdowns
73 INTs
0.0% Comp %
15.1 HAIR

Jim Hardy Career Timeline

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1955 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.

4 years in the NFL

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.