Justin Hardee
Justin Hardee (born February 7, 1994) is an American football cornerback and special teamer for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois.
| No. 34 – New York Jets | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback / Special teamer | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 7, 1994 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) | ||||||||
| College: | Illinois (2012–2016) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2017 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Roster status: | Injured reserve | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2023 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
College career
Hardee committed to Illinois as a three-star prospect out of Cleveland, Ohio where he racked up a total of 841 yards receiving throughout his entire career.[1]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+5⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
197 lb (89 kg) |
32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.36 s | 1.50 s | 2.56 s | 4.26 s | 7.28 s | 34.5 in (0.88 m) | 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) | 17 reps | |
| All values from Pro Day[2][3] | ||||||||||||
2017
Hardee was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2017.[4] He was waived on September 2.[5]
New Orleans Saints
On September 7, 2017, Hardee was signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad.[6] He was promoted to the active roster on September 23.[7] In Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hardee blocked a punt by Bryan Anger and returned it for a touchdown in a 30–10 win. He was recognized as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his accomplishment.[8]
Hardee finished the season making 10 combined tackles in 14 regular-season games and 2 post-season games.
2018
In Week 4 against the New York Giants, in the first quarter on a fourth down, quarterback Taysom Hill threw a 10 yard pass to Hardee, where he made his first NFL career reception. This gave his team a first down in a drive ending in a field goal, in a Saints win. In Week 5, against the Washington Redskins, Hardee caught his first NFL career interception, a short pass thrown by quarterback Alex Smith that was returned for 77 yards.[9] This play ended at Washington's 4-yard line, setting up a quick drive for a Saints touchdown. He also made 2 pass deflections in the Saints' 43-19 win.
He finished the season playing in all 16 regular-season games and 2 post-season games, making 20 combined tackles, 1 reception, 2 passes deflected and 1 interception.[10]
2019
Hardee played in all 16 regular-season games and the Saints' single postseason game, making a combined 11 tackles.[11]
2020
On March 23, 2020, Hardee re-signed with the Saints.[12] He was placed on injured reserve on November 6 with a groin injury.[13] He was activated on December 12.[14] He finished the season participating in 10 regular-season games and 2 post-season games, making 8 combined tackles.
2021
Hardee signed a three-year, $5.25 million contract with the New York Jets on March 18, 2021.[15][16] He played in 16 regular-season games, making 12 combined tackles.
2022
In Week 4, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hardee forced a fumble on return specialist Gunner Olszewski in a Steelers' punt return at the start of the third quarter, which was recovered by James Pierre.[17] The Jets went on to win that game 24-20. He finished the season with 14 combined tackles and 1 forced fumble within 17 regular-season games.[18]
2023
On October 14, 2023, Hardee was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.[19]
References
- "Justin Hardee, Illinois Fighting Illini, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- "2017 Draft Scout Justin Hardee, Illinois NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- "Justin Hardee 2017 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- "OFFICIAL: Texans sign 20 college free agents". HoustonTexans.com. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- "Transactions: Texans down to 53-man roster". HoustonTexans.com. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018.
- Teope, Herbie (September 7, 2017). "Saints sign Justin Hardee to practice squad". NOLA.com.
- Underhill, Nick (September 23, 2017). "Saints promote Arthur Maulet, Justin Hardee to 53-man roster". TheAdvocate.com.
- Shook, Nick (November 8, 2017). "T.Y. Hilton, Jared Goff among NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com.
- "Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints - October 8th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "Justin Hardee 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- "Justin Hardee 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with DB Justin Hardee on one-year contract". NewOrleansSaints.com. March 20, 2020.
- "Saints send Sheldon Rankins, Justin Hardee to IR, activate Ty Montgomery ahead of Bucs game". NOLA.com. November 6, 2020.
- "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. December 12, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- "Justin Hardee's contract with Jets includes just $1 million guaranteed". jetswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- "Jets Sign DB Justin Hardee". New York Jets. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- "New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 2nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "Justin Hardee 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- Greenberg, Ethan (October 14, 2023). "Jets Add OL Carter Warren to Active Roster; Place DB Justin Hardee on IR". NewYorkJets.com.