[rams74]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/351 ... dl-dies-82

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Longtime NFL quarterback John Hadl, who starred for his hometown Kansas Jayhawks before embarking on a professional career that included six Pro Bowl appearances and an All-Pro nod, died Wednesday. He was 82.

The university, where Hadl returned after his playing days as a coach and fundraiser, announced his death in a statement, citing his family. No cause was given.

"John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas football," Jayhawks athletic director Travis Goff said. "He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU. In short, our university and athletic program has been transformed by John and his legacy will forever be cemented. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with [wife] Diana and the Hadl family."

Hadl was a two-sport star at Lawrence High School, a short drive from the Kansas campus, but made his name on the football field for the Jayhawks. He led the NCAA in punting as a sophomore, set a record for longest punt of 94 yards that still stands, and until 2007, held the record for longest interception return with a 98-yarder.

Hadl played both halfback and quarterback his final two seasons, helping Kansas go 14-5-2 over the span. The two-time All-American finished his career by leading the Jayhawks to their first bowl win against Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

"Upon my arrival," current Kansas coach Lance Leipold said, "I heard instantly from people across the state about John's impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me."

Hadl was chosen 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 1962 in the NFL draft and 24th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the AFL draft, where he chose to pursue his career. Hadl would spend 11 seasons with the Chargers, taking them to three AFL title games before the merger with the NFL, before finishing his career with the Packers, Rams and Oilers.

After retiring in 1977, Hadl returned to Kansas as an assistant, helping the Jayhawks to the 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl. He later coached for the Rams, the Broncos and the Los Angeles Express of the USFL before returning to Kansas in 1988, where he spent the next 30 years as a prolific fundraiser for the Williams Education Fund.

Hadl's No. 21 is one of three numbers retired by Kansas along with No. 48 of Gale Sayers and No. 42 of Ray Evans. In 2020, the school celebrated his legacy by unveiling a statue of Hadl outside the Anderson Family Football Complex.

"To be the head coach of this program," Leipold said, "and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones."

[Rams1PlateSince1976]

Thanks for posting this. I heard the news from a friend earlier today but no details. A fantastic athlete. Never met him but a good friend of mine is his cousin.

[Elvis]

[Elvis]

[TomSlick]

Some of my favorite memories listening to the game on the radio is hearing the announcer on a bomb, "Hadl to Jackson.....(interminably long silence, just crowd noise).....TOUCHDOWN!"

Oh, and dig that helmet he is wearing...big fat horns.

[rams1974]

I wonder if anyone here has any strong opinions about the helmets/unis shown in those pictures?

[Hacksaw]

I wonder if anyone here has any strong opinions about the helmets/unis shown in those pictures?

Wonder no more. A resounding YES!! lol

[rams74]

I wonder if anyone here has any strong opinions about the helmets/unis shown in those pictures?

Hadl's arrival in 1973 marked the first year of the Ferragamos, along with Chuck Knox and a great new QB-WR combo. All things that helped me get over my disappointment of losing Roman Gabriel to the Eagles.

And after nearly 50 years, those unis still look great.

Rest easy John Hadl, it was great while it lasted.

[CanuckRightWinger]

Every MNF night, I wear another great Ram from Kansas, the #21 white jersey of Nolan Cromwell ,down to the last Canadian border pub before Pt.Roberts WA.....the Rose&Crown. And yep, up here in the Pacific NorthWest, I am the only Rams-clad fan amid an ocean of Seahawk Jerseys.

I knew it was also John Hadl's number from that glorious 1973 season of 12-2, when our Los Ramos were a mere 3 measly points from a perfect 14-0 season, only losing 10-9 to the Vikings and 15-13 to Norm Van Brocklin's Falcons.

Hadl was great for us in 1973, but he hurt his back in a Horseback Riding accident in the OffSeason and Rams Owner Carroll Rosenbloom got his ace GM Don WizardTrader Klosterman to shop Hadl around, and low & behold, Klosterman got a truckload of Draft treasure from the Packers, in a trade that in Wisconsin is still referred to as the Lawrence Welk Trade ....IE. "a One, anna Two, and a One, Two, Three."

It provided those stellar Chuck Knox teams of the 1970's (5 NFC West Titles in a row!) with Draft Picks that set us up with those strong GroundChuck rosters...
....and set the Green Bay Packers back for a decade.

R.I.P. John Hadl.....
thanks for all those great memories in 1973, for this (back then, skinny) Canuck!!

[Ramsdude]

I wonder if anyone here has any strong opinions about the helmets/unis shown in those pictures?

All these years later and we are STILL bitching about the new uni's?!?!?! Really????

I just want to be sure before I agree that the new uni's STILL suck!!!

I think I am well documented on here about how I feel about Dumoff and the rebrand! I still think he will go down in History not as the the guy who got us to a Super Bowl but rather the guy who shit on our glorified tradition, neutered the horns and lied right to our faces about that stupid ASU logo hat that was "leaked" early.

Yes, I am still bitter! lol