Hardman in 2003
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1948-10-04)October 4, 1948 Houston, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | March 8, 2019(2019-03-08) (aged 70) San Clemente, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | George Washington Carver (Houston, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | North Texas State (1966–1969) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Cedrick Ward Hardman (October 4, 1948 – March 8, 2019) was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, then played in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Oakland Invaders.[1] Hardman's thirteen-year professional football career lasted from 1970 to 1981 in the NFL and ended as a player/coach in 1983 with the Invaders. Hardman held the record for most sacks in a season for the 49ers recording 18 sacks in only 14 games during the 1971 season with the 49ers until 2012, when it was broken by Aldon Smith with 19.5.[2]
Hardman played college football at North Texas State University, (renamed the University of North Texas in 1988). Hardman was an All-Missouri Valley Conference football defensive lineman. In a historic manner, Hardman recorded 30 sacks in his senior season at North Texas State[3] including an 11-sack performance in North Texas' 1969 Homecoming game against Tulsa. Hardman represented North Texas State in the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl all-star games in 1970 earning defensive most valuable player honors after recording 4 sacks in each game. Including the all-star games, Hardman accounted for 38 sacks during his final year at North Texas.
During his first two seasons at North Texas Hardman lined up on the same defense as future Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee "Mean" Joe Greene.
Hardman started playing college football as a defensive back, then moved to linebacker in his sophomore season. His final two college years were spent playing defensive end. Hardman was selected with the ninth overall selection in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.[4]
Hardman is the current all-time sack leader for the San Francisco 49ers franchise, recording 107 sacks between 1970 and 1979. He also had 14+1⁄2 with the Raiders in 1980 and 1981 (9+1⁄2 in 1981).[5] The NFL did not start to officially recognize the sack until the 1982 season, so, unofficially, Hardman's 121+1⁄2 career sacks ranks him tied with Clyde Simmons for 30th all time.[6] Hardman was a two-time Pro Bowler in 1971 and 1975.[7] After changing teams, he was a member of the Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XV championship squad.[8]
On October 20, 1982, Hardman was the first player signed by the Oakland Invaders of newly formed United States Football League.[9] Hardman served as a player/coach during the team's inaugural 1983 season, as the Invaders won their division with a 9-9 record.
Hardman is related to current NFL defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall of the New York Jets.[11]
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San Francisco 49ers 1970 NFL draft selections
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NFL annual sacks leaders (Deacon Jones Award)
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Sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL. Starting in 2013, the sack leader is officially given the Deacon Jones Award |
