NFL CAREER: This former Illinois wide receiver transitioned to defensive back after joining the Saints practice squad prior to the 2017 season. Since being promoted to the active roster, Hardee's developed into a special teams ace for club appearing in 46 regular season games andĀ over the last three seasons, posting 15 solo tackles, one 77-yard interception return, two passes defensed, a team-leading 24 special teams stops over that period, a blocked punt that he recovered for a touchdown and a ten-yard reception, while adding two coverage stops in five postseason contests. Heading into the 2020 season, Hardee looks to make continued strides with his coverage skills, while continuing to be a significant special teams contributor.
TRANSACTIONS ā Agreed to terms with Saints on a one-year contract, 3/20/20; Signed by Saints to active roster, 9/23/17; Signed by Saints to practice squad, 9/7/17; Waived by Texans, 9/2/17; Signed by Texans, 5/12/17.
HONORS ā 2017: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week Eight).
2019- Played in all 16 regular season games and one postseason contest, tallying nine solo tackles and five special teams stopsā¦Recorded season-high two special teams stops on Thanksgiving night at Atlanta, Nov. 28ā¦Recorded one special teams tackle at Tennessee, Dec. 29ā¦Had a club-best and career-high six solo tackles in at Carolina, Dec. 29. 2018- Played in all 16 regular season games and both postseason contests, tallying nine solo tackles, a 77-yard interception return, two passes defensed and a career-high and a team-leading ten special teams stopsā¦In opener vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 9, recorded two special teams stopsā¦Vs. Cleveland, Sept. 16, recorded a special teams stopā¦At Atlanta, Sept. 23, recorded an assisted special teams stopā¦At N.Y. Giants, Sept. 30, caught a 10-yard pass from Taysom Hill on a fake punt attempt to convert a first downā¦Vs. Washington, Oct. 8, played on defense and special teams, recording career-highs in tackles (four), solo tackles (four), passes defensed (two), and making his first career interception, returned for 77 yardsā¦At Minnesota, Oct. 28, recorded three coverage tackles (two solo) to tie a career-highā¦At Cincinnati, Nov. 11, played on defense and special teams, finishing with one solo tackleā¦Vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 18, recorded one defensive tackle and one special teams tackleā¦At Carolina, Dec. 17, played on special teams and recorded his tenth tackle, surpassing his rookie season totalā¦Vs. Carolina, Dec. 30, played on defense and special teams, finishing with three solo tacklesā¦In the NFC Divisional playoff game vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/19, played on special teamsā¦In the NFC Ā Championship game vs. L.A. Rams, 1/20/19, played on special teams and recorded one tackle. 2017- Appeared in 14 regular season games and both postseason contests. In regular season, led team with nine special teams tackles and also blocked a punt he recovered for a touchdown. Made one coverage stop in the NFC Wild Card Playoff victory at Carolina, 1/7/18ā¦At Carolina, Sept. 24, made his NFL regular season playing debut on special teamsā¦Vs. Detroit, Oct. 15, recorded a career-high three special teams tackles (two solo)ā¦Vs. Chicago, Oct. 29, played on special teams and had a stopā¦Vs. Tampa Bay, Nov. 5, played on special teams and blocked a punt that he recovered for a touchdown, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honorsā¦At L.A. Rams, Nov. 26, played on special teams and recorded one tackleā¦Vs. New York Jets, Dec. 17, played on special teams and had a tackleā¦Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 24, played on special teams and had two solo coverage tacklesā¦At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, played on special teams and downed a punt at the Buccaneers five-yard line.
COLLEGE: Played wide receiver at Illinois from 2012-16ā¦Started all 12 games as a redshirt senior in 2016 and finished second on team with 314 receiving yards and third with 25 receptionsā¦Career-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (125) in season finale at Northwesternā¦Academic All-Big 10ā¦Played in all 13 games in 2014, starting eight and tallied 19 catches for 240 yardsā¦Caught six passes for 110 yards, including a go-ahead 62-yard touchdown pass with 12:27 left vs. Western Kentuckyā¦In 2013, played in all 12 games with one startā¦Had 11 catches for 95 yardsā¦In 2012, played in all 12 games, making one start, first of career vs. Louisiana Techā¦Had 17 catches for 192 yardsā¦Earned a bachelor's degree in communication and also has master's degrees in education and sport management.
PERSONAL: Attended Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) HS, where he was a teammate of Saints CB Marshon Lattimore and a 2011 third-team Northeast Lakes All-District selection as a seniorā¦Played in Next Level Northeast Ohio All-Star Gameā¦Member of 2009 team that played in Division I state title gameā¦Also ran track at Glenville, winning a 2011 OHSAA State Championship in the 4x400m relayā¦High school coach was Ted Ginn Srā¦Attended a Touchdown Club of New Orleans dinner in 2017, speaking to members about his journey to the Saints and was the club's 2017 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year...In 2018, participated in Ted Ginn Jr's youth football camp at Beachwood (Ohio) High School as a counselorā¦Through his Hardee Cares Foundation, teamed up with Ginn and Lattimore to provide local children with a holiday shopping spreeā¦In 2019, hosted a charity bowling tournament to support the foundation's initiativesā¦In March, hosted a pizza party for students who participate in his reading programā¦In June, opened a Papa John's Pizza franchise in the city's burgeoning medical districtā¦Hardee's foundation supports Sarcoidosis awareness, honoring his mother who passed away from the disease,