Recent from talks
John Hadl
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
John Hadl
John Willard Hadl (Pronounced: HAY-dull) (February 15, 1940 – November 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for 16 years in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). 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, the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Oilers. He also played as a punter for five seasons.
Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas, to Jess and Judy Hadl. His father was a mechanic. Hadl attended Lawrence High School, where he was an all-state halfback.
Hadl enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he played for his hometown Jayhawks. 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. He was an All-American at halfback in 1960 and at quarterback in 1961.
Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America (1960 and 1961) honors. Hadl also excelled as a defensive back, punt returner, and punter; he led the country with a 45.6-yard punting average in 1959. Hadl's No. 21 jersey is one of only three Kansas has retired. Hadl was picked for the all-conference team for three seasons, and wound up with 1,345 yards passing and 1,041 yards rushing. Hadl still holds two Kansas records: longest interception return, a 98-yard run against TCU and longest punt, 94 yards versus Oklahoma.
With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top 20 during his junior and senior years, finishing 15–5–2. 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.
Hadl played at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 210 lb (95 kg). He joined the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1962, having decided to play with them over the Detroit Lions (who selected him in the first round (tenth overall) of the NFL draft).
Hadl played in each game of his first season, although his use was more often in the second half than the first despite starting ten of fourteen games. His first pass in the AFL was a fifteen-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Jackson near the end of a 30–21 loss to the Denver Broncos. He made his first start with the September 23 game against the Houston Oilers, although he went 1-of-4 for six yards before being taken out for Dick Wood. The Chargers had three quarterbacks during that season, including Jack Kemp. Hadl had his highs and lows during this time, such as throwing three touchdowns along with three interceptions (the first of three games with three interceptions) on 7-of-14 passes against Oakland in a 42–33 win. He won just one of his nine starts, doing so in a 11-of-24 effort for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception game versus Oakland on December 2, 1962.
Hub AI
John Hadl AI simulator
(@John Hadl_simulator)
John Hadl
John Willard Hadl (Pronounced: HAY-dull) (February 15, 1940 – November 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for 16 years in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). 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, the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Oilers. He also played as a punter for five seasons.
Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas, to Jess and Judy Hadl. His father was a mechanic. Hadl attended Lawrence High School, where he was an all-state halfback.
Hadl enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he played for his hometown Jayhawks. 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. He was an All-American at halfback in 1960 and at quarterback in 1961.
Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America (1960 and 1961) honors. Hadl also excelled as a defensive back, punt returner, and punter; he led the country with a 45.6-yard punting average in 1959. Hadl's No. 21 jersey is one of only three Kansas has retired. Hadl was picked for the all-conference team for three seasons, and wound up with 1,345 yards passing and 1,041 yards rushing. Hadl still holds two Kansas records: longest interception return, a 98-yard run against TCU and longest punt, 94 yards versus Oklahoma.
With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top 20 during his junior and senior years, finishing 15–5–2. 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.
Hadl played at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 210 lb (95 kg). He joined the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1962, having decided to play with them over the Detroit Lions (who selected him in the first round (tenth overall) of the NFL draft).
Hadl played in each game of his first season, although his use was more often in the second half than the first despite starting ten of fourteen games. His first pass in the AFL was a fifteen-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Jackson near the end of a 30–21 loss to the Denver Broncos. He made his first start with the September 23 game against the Houston Oilers, although he went 1-of-4 for six yards before being taken out for Dick Wood. The Chargers had three quarterbacks during that season, including Jack Kemp. Hadl had his highs and lows during this time, such as throwing three touchdowns along with three interceptions (the first of three games with three interceptions) on 7-of-14 passes against Oakland in a 42–33 win. He won just one of his nine starts, doing so in a 11-of-24 effort for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception game versus Oakland on December 2, 1962.
Recent media