mjp28 Posted December 2, 2022 Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 Former Chargers quarterback John Hadl died at the age of 82 on Wednesday morning. Hadl was drafted in 1962 by the AFL’s San Diego Chargers, where he played until ’72. He served as the backup quarterback when the team won the 1963 AFL Championship and became the team’s full-time starter in ’65. After 11 seasons with the Chargers, Hadl played two seasons each with the Rams, Packers and Houston Oilers. He retired after the 1977 season. In 17 total seasons in pro football, Hadl finished with 33,503 passing yards, 244 touchdown passes, 1,112 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He recorded an 82–75–9 record as a starting quarterback. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjp28 Posted December 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 John Hadl was also a legendary quarterback at the University of Kansas before being taken with the number 10 pick in the NFL Draft. John Willard Hadl (February 15, 1940 – November 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. He won an AFL championship with the San Diego Chargers in 1963. Hadl was named an AFL All-Star four times and was selected to two Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. Hadl played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. A two-time All-American, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Hadl played in three AFL title games with San Diego before the league's merger with the NFL. He finished his career with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Houston Oilers. He was also a punter for five seasons. Hadl enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he played for his hometown Jayhawks.[2] After playing halfback on both offense and defense as a sophomore, he played quarterback for his last two years, and was selected as the school's Player of the Century.[3] He was an All-American at halfback in 1960 and at quarterback in 1961.[4] Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America (1960 and 1961) honors.[5] Hadl also excelled as a defensive back, punt returner, and punter; he led the country with a 45.6-yard punting average in 1959.[3] Hadl's No. 21 jersey is one of only three Kansas has retired.[2][5] Hadl was picked for the all-conference team for three seasons, and wound up with 1,345 yards passing and 1,041 yards rushing.[6] Hadl still holds two Kansas records: longest interception return, a 98-yard run against TCU and longest punt, 94 yards versus Oklahoma.[3] With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top 20 during his junior and senior years, finishing 15–5–2.[7] He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to a 33–7 win over Rice in the Bluebonnet Bowl. He was also named MVP in the East–West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjp28 Posted December 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 Despite some great college and professional football numbers Hadl was a bit overlooked by many fans because he played so long in the somewhat obscure and overlooked AFL League . I caught on to the exciting but overlooked AFL because a friend of mine was a fan and I like many other people thought the NFL was superior to that other football league afterall I was a 1964 NFL Champion Cleveland BROWNS fan and I also liked the Green Bay Packers who could kick any AFL team's butt. Well until Broadway Joe Namath showed up and kicked Baltimore's butt who shutout our BROWNS....... enough said there. So Hadl never really got his due like some comparable NFL QBs. -but- he was good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickers Posted December 2, 2022 Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted December 2, 2022 Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 He was a good QB. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjp28 Posted December 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2022 12 hours ago, Orion said: He was a good QB. RIP John Hadl was a really good quarterback who just happened to be in the AFL for most of his career. Even in college he played for Kansas not a B10 or a SEC school which would have brought more attention to his play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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