{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Brandon Hardin | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | number = 35 | position = Safety | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|30}} | birth_place = Kealakekua, Hawaii, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 217 | high_school = Honolulu (HI) Kamehameha | college = Oregon State (2007–2011) | draftyear = 2012 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 79 | pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2013}}) * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2014}})* | status = | statseason = | statlabel1 = | statvalue1 = |pfr=HardBr01 }}
'''Brandon Hardin''' (born October 30, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.
==College career== In his college career, he registered 105 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 38 games. He started all 12 games at right cornerback in 2010, recording 63 tackles and three forced fumbles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8778 |title=Bears pick Oregon State's Hardin |publisher=Chicagobears.com |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625104530/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8778 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1724658/brandon-hardin |title=Brandon Hardin, FS, Oregon State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> He missed the 2011 season due to injury, but played in the East-West Shrine Game anyway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8778 |title=Bears pick Oregon State's Hardin |publisher=Chicagobears.com |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625104530/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8778 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Chicago Bears=== The Chicago Bears chose Hardin in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft despite him missing the entire 2011 college football season with a shoulder ailment and having an extensive injury history during his career at Oregon State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=New Chicago Bear: Brandon Hardin, Round 3, No. 79|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0428-3rd-pick-bears-nfl-draft-chicago--20120428,0,7894611.story |publisher=chicagotribune.com |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock called Hardin "a big, good-looking kid who will definitely play inside in Chicago."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/profiles/brandon-hardin?id=2532855 |title=Brandon Hardin Draft Profile |work=Nfl.com |date= |access-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref>
On May 15, the Bears signed Hardin to a 4-year contract, making him the last of the Bears draft picks to sign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8815 |title=Bears ink their last unsigned draft pick |publisher=Chicagobears.com |date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614183801/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8815 |archive-date=June 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hardin was also reunited with Stephen Paea. "If I had one word to describe him, it would be a beast," Hardin said. "He’s just strong as hell. When he was our d-tackle and I was playing corner, it was good knowing he was in there rushing the quarterback."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8806 |title=Rookie's father a big Walter Payton fan |publisher=Chicagobears.com |date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618091159/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=8806 |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On August 18, 2012, during a pre-season game against the Washington Redskins, Hardin left the 3rd quarter with a neck injury, and had to be carted off the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/18/bears-brandon-hardin-stretchered-off-the-field/ |title=Bears' Brandon Hardin stretchered off the field | ProFootballTalk |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date= August 18, 2012|access-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref> The injury came when he was tackling Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen, which caused him to lie on the field for 10 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8990 |title=Cutler, Marshall are building chemistry |publisher=Chicagobears.com |date=August 19, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822005516/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8990 |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His head was immobilized, but he showed mobility in his arms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8989 |title=Read Larry's Bears vs. Redskins blog |publisher=Chicagobears.com |access-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822232107/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8989 |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hardin was later released from the hospital a day later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bears-safety-Brandon-Hardin-out-of-hospital.html |title=Bears safety Brandon Hardin out of hospital |publisher=National Football Post |date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823000407/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bears-safety-Brandon-Hardin-out-of-hospital.html |archive-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hardin was placed on injured reserve shortly later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-will-place-brandon-hardin-on-injured-reserve-20120825,0,5744877.story |title=Chicago Bears will place Brandon Hardin on injured reserve |publisher=chicagotribune.com |date= |access-date=August 26, 2012 |last1=Tribune |first1=Chicago }}</ref>
In the 2013 preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, Hardin broke his scapula, and was subsequently released on August 31.<ref>{{cite news|last=Biggs|first=Brad|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-final-cuts-20130831,0,4727768.story|title=Bears waive LB Thomas to reach roster limit|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 31, 2013|access-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901215355/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-final-cuts-20130831,0,4727768.story|archive-date=September 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===New York Jets=== Hardin was signed by the New York Jets to a future/reserve contract on January 15, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=S Brandon Hardin Signs with Jets |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-5/S-Brandon-Hardin-Signs-with-Jets/abcecc03-7adc-442b-bf4c-23b06a382ae9 |author=Jets Staff |date=January 15, 2014 |publisher=New York Jets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116195902/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-5/S-Brandon-Hardin-Signs-with-Jets/abcecc03-7adc-442b-bf4c-23b06a382ae9 |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hardin was released on August 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jets Sign RB Smith, Release S Hardin |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangeblogfb/Jets-Sign-RB-Smith-Release-S-Hardin/39eb0140-3ebb-4381-ab46-9da75d3ba3ba |publisher=New York Jets |author=Lange, Randy |date=August 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805111525/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangeblogfb/Jets-Sign-RB-Smith-Release-S-Hardin/39eb0140-3ebb-4381-ab46-9da75d3ba3ba |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=August 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Personal life== In June 2012, Hardin graduated with a degree in business administration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hardin_brandon00.html |title=Brandon Hardin Profile - OREGON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE |publisher=Osubeavers.com |date=October 30, 1989 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507021746/http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hardin_brandon00.html |archive-date=May 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Football stats |nfl=2532855 |espn=14949 |pfr=H/HardBr01}} * [http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/profiles/brandon-hardin?id=2532855 2012 NFL Draft Profile]
{{Bears2012DraftPicks|state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardin, Brandon}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Honolulu Category:American football safeties Category:Kamehameha Schools alumni Category:Oregon State Beavers football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:New York Jets players Category:American people of Chinese descent Category:Sportspeople of Chinese descent Category:Native Hawaiian sportspeople Category:People from Hawaii of Chinese descent Category:American players of American football of Asian descent