# Justin Hardy > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Hardy > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Hardy.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hardy > Source revision: 1352074885 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}} {{Distinguish|Justin Hardee}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Justin Hardy | image = 2024, 02, Justin Hardy.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Hardy with the [Ottawa Redblacks](/source/Ottawa_Redblacks) in 2024 | current_team = Ottawa Redblacks | number = 2 | position = [Wide receiver](/source/Wide_receiver) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|12|18}} | birth_place = [Washington, North Carolina](/source/Washington%2C_North_Carolina), U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lbs = 192 | death_date = | death_place = | high_school = [West Craven](/source/West_Craven_High_School_(Vanceboro%2C_North_Carolina))
([Vanceboro, North Carolina](/source/Vanceboro%2C_North_Carolina)) | college = [East Carolina](/source/East_Carolina_Pirates_football) (2010–2014) | draftyear = 2015 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 107 | pastteams = * [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2019}}) * [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) ({{NFL Year|2021}})* * [Ottawa Redblacks](/source/Ottawa_Redblacks) ({{CFL Year|2022}}–present) | status = Active | cflstatus = American | highlights = * CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2024}}) * 3× [CFL East](/source/CFL_East) All-Star ([2023](/source/2023_CFL_season), {{CFL Year|2024}}, {{CFL Year|2025}}) * [Burlsworth Trophy](/source/Burlsworth_Trophy) (2014) * First-team All-[AAC](/source/American_Athletic_Conference) (2014) * 2× First-team All-[C-USA](/source/Conference_USA) ([2012](/source/2012_Conference_USA_football_season), [2013](/source/2013_Conference_USA_football_season)) | statleague = NFL | statlabel1 = [Receptions](/source/Reception_(American_football)) | statvalue1 = 95 | statlabel2 = [Receiving yards](/source/Receiving_yards) | statvalue2 = 946 | statlabel3 = [Receiving touchdowns](/source/Touchdown) | statvalue3 = 9 | cflstatseason = 2025 | cflstatlabel1 = Targets | cflstatvalue1 = 435 | cflstatlabel2 = [Receptions](/source/Reception_(American_football)) | cflstatvalue2 = 304 | cflstatlabel3 = [Receiving yards](/source/Receiving_yards) | cflstatvalue3 = 3,787 | cflstatlabel4 = [Receiving touchdowns](/source/Touchdown) | cflstatvalue4 = 16 | cfl = justin-hardy/166421/ | pfr = HardJu00 }} '''Justin Hardy''' (born December 18, 1991) is an American professional [football](/source/gridiron_football) [wide receiver](/source/wide_receiver) for the [Ottawa Redblacks](/source/Ottawa_Redblacks) of the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) (CFL). He was selected by the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) in the fourth round of the [2015 NFL draft](/source/2015_NFL_draft). He played [college football](/source/college_football) for the [East Carolina Pirates](/source/East_Carolina_Pirates_football). Hardy was the [NCAA](/source/NCAA) all-time [reception](/source/Reception_(gridiron_football)) leader until his former teammate [Zay Jones](/source/Zay_Jones) overtook his record during the 2016 season. ==Early life== Hardy attended [West Craven High School](/source/West_Craven_High_School_(Vanceboro)) in [Vanceboro, North Carolina](/source/Vanceboro%2C_North_Carolina). As a senior on the [football](/source/high_school_football) team, he played [quarterback](/source/quarterback) after previously being a [wide receiver](/source/wide_receiver).{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/19/4162538/decock-justin-hardy-embodies-the.html|title=DeCock: Justin Hardy embodies The ECU Way|access-date=October 5, 2014|archive-date=December 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229163604/http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/19/4162538/decock-justin-hardy-embodies-the.html|url-status=dead}} That season, he passed for 2,500 yards and had 35 passing [touchdowns](/source/touchdowns). Hardy also picked two additional [letters](/source/Letterman_(sports)) as a [shooting](/source/shooting_guard) and [point guard](/source/point_guard) in [basketball](/source/basketball) and another in [track](/source/track_and_field) as a [high jumper](/source/high_jumper) (best of 6-4 or 1.93m).{{cite web|url=http://nc.milesplit.com/meets/72169/results/123406|title=NCHSAA 3A East Regional - Results (Raw)}} ==College career== Hardy was [redshirted](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)) as a freshman at [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University) in 2010, a season in which he [walked on](/source/Walk-on_(sports)).{{cite press release |url=http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120814aab.html |title=Justin Hardy Named 2014 Burlsworth Trophy Winner |publisher=[ECU Athletics](/source/East_Carolina_Pirates) |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=December 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209044550/http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120814aab.html |archive-date=December 9, 2014 }} After earning a [scholarship](/source/Athletic_scholarship) in spring 2011, he started eight of 10 games in his redshirt freshman season in 2011, recording a school freshman record 64 [receptions](/source/Reception_(gridiron_football)) for 658 yards and six touchdowns.{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/nobowl/index.ssf/2012/12/east_carolina_sophomore_justin.html|title=East Carolina sophomore Justin Hardy turning heads at receiver}} As a sophomore in 2012 Hardy was an All-[Conference USA](/source/Conference_USA) first-team selection after recording 88 receptions for 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/10/3183538_ecu-football-justin-hardy-continues.html?rh=1|title=ECU receiver Justin Hardy rises through record book}} As a junior in 2013, Hardy was again first-team All-Conference USA after setting school records for receptions (114) and receiving yards (1,284) in a season.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Adam |date=April 12, 2014 |title=Football: ECU's Hardy closes final spring |url=https://www.newbernsj.com/sports/football-ecu-s-hardy-closes-final-spring/article_4f3f80d4-807c-5c1d-9031-ae2d7136c686.html |access-date=November 6, 2023 |website=New Bern Sun Journal |language=en}} During the first game of his senior season in 2014, he set East Carolina's record for career receptions, passing [Dwayne Harris](/source/Dwayne_Harris)' 268.{{cite web | title=East Carolina's Justin Hardy pulls off hat trick | website=Raleigh News & Observer | date=2014-08-31 | url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/aac/east-carolina-university/article10046537.html | access-date=2024-10-22}} On November 22, 2014, against Tulane, Hardy became the [NCAA](/source/NCAA)'s all-time leading receptions leader, passing [Ryan Broyles](/source/Ryan_Broyles)' 349.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11920846/justin-hardy-east-carolina-pirates-sets-fbs-career-receptions-record|title=ECU's Hardy sets FBS career catches mark|date=November 22, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24830498/ecu-wr-justin-hardy-breaks-fbs-career-receiving-record|title=ECU WR Justin Hardy breaks FBS career receiving record}} On December 8, 2014, Hardy was named the winner of that season's [Burlsworth Trophy](/source/Burlsworth_Trophy), awarded annually to the most outstanding player who began his college career as a walk-on. For the season, Hardy had 121 receptions for 1,494 yards and 10 touchdowns.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/justin-hardy-1/gamelog/2014/ |title=Justin Hardy 2014 Game Log |website=[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference) |language=en |access-date=January 1, 2018}} Hardy finished his collegiate career with 387 receptions for 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/justin-hardy-1/gamelog/ |title=Justin Hardy Career Game Log |website=[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference) |language=en |access-date=December 25, 2017}} ===Statistics=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! colspan="16" style="background: #592A8A; border: 2px solid #FFC702; color:#FFC702;"| East Carolina Pirates |- ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Receiving ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Punt Return |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD |- ! [2010](/source/2010_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season) !! [ECU](/source/2010_East_Carolina_Pirates_football_team) | colspan="14" | ''[Redshirted](/source/Redshirted) 15px|Redshirt'' |- ! [2011](/source/2011_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season) !! [ECU](/source/2011_East_Carolina_Pirates_football_team) | 10 || 8 || 64 || 658 || 10.3 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 |- ! [2012](/source/2012_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season) !! [ECU](/source/2012_East_Carolina_Pirates_football_team) | 13 || 12 || 88 || 1,105 || 12.6 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 20|| 175 || 8.8 || 0 |- ! [2013](/source/2013_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season) !! [ECU](/source/2013_East_Carolina_Pirates_football_team) | 13 || 13 || 114 || 1,284 || 11.3 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 20 || 225 || 11.3 || 0 |- ! [2014](/source/2014_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_season) !! [ECU](/source/2014_East_Carolina_Pirates_football_team) | 13 || 13 || 121 || 1,494 || 12.3 || 10 || 1 || 7 || 7.0 || 1 || 23 || 95 ||4.1 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | Career{{cite web |title=Justin Hardy |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/justin-hardy-1.html |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |work=www.sports-reference.com |access-date=September 18, 2016}} !! 49 !! 46 !! 387 !! 4,541 !! 11.7 !! 35 !! 1 !! 7 !! 7.0 !! 1 !! 63 !! 495 !! 7.9 !! 0 |} ==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 10 1/4 | weight = 192 | dash = 4.56 | ten split = 1.57 | twenty split = 2.62 | shuttle = 4.21 | cone drill = 6.63 | vertical = 36.5 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 6 | bench = 11 | arm span = 32 1/8 | hand span = 10 | note = All values from [NFL Combine](/source/NFL_Combine){{cite web|title=Justin Hardy Draft and Combine Prospect Profile|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/justin-hardy/32004841-5211-1877-e1fe-326c6e4b66eb|work=NFL.com|access-date=September 19, 2016}}{{Cite web |title=2015 NFL Draft Scout Justin Hardy College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=108193&DraftYear=2015 |access-date=October 15, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}} }} thumb|left|190px|Hardy with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 ===Atlanta Falcons=== Hardy was selected by the [Atlanta Falcons](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) in the fourth round (107th overall) in the [2015 NFL draft](/source/2015_NFL_draft).{{Cite web |last=McClure |first=Vaughn |date=2015-05-02 |title=Total breakdown: Falcons draft WR Justin Hardy in fourth round |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/13094/total-breakdown-falcons-draft-wr-justin-hardy-in-fourth-round |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In his [rookie season](/source/2015_Atlanta_Falcons_season), Hardy played in nine games, catching 21 passes for 194 yards.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardJu00.htm Justin Hardy]. pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2016. In Week 2 of the [2016 season](/source/2016_Atlanta_Falcons_season), against the [Oakland Raiders](/source/Oakland_Raiders), Hardy scored his first career touchdown when he caught a [deflected pass](/source/Pass_deflected) from [Matt Ryan](/source/Matt_Ryan_(American_football)) in the end zone.McClure, Vaughn. [https://www.espn.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/22561/falcons-prove-they-are-not-allergic-to-red-zone-in-road-win Falcons work through their red zone struggles on road in win over Raiders]. ESPN.com September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016. In the 2016 season, he had 21 receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardJu00/gamelog/2016/ |title=Justin Hardy 2016 Game Log |website=[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference) |language=en |access-date=January 1, 2018}} Hardy and the Falcons reached [Super Bowl LI](/source/Super_Bowl_LI), where they faced the [New England Patriots](/source/2016_New_England_Patriots_season). In the Super Bowl, Hardy had two kickoff returns for 17 total yards as the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201702050atl.htm|title=Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017|work=[Pro-Football-Reference.com](/source/Pro-Football-Reference.com)|access-date=August 6, 2017}} In the 2017 season, Hardy recorded 20 receptions for 221 yards and three touchdowns.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardJu00/gamelog/2017/ |title=Justin Hardy 2017 Game Log |website=[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference) |language=en |access-date=January 1, 2018}} On March 21, 2019, Hardy re-signed with the Falcons.{{cite web|title=Falcons agree to terms with Justin Hardy|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-agree-to-terms-with-justin-hardy|author=McFadden, Will|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=March 21, 2019}} During the 2019 season, Hardy caught 19 passes for 195 yards. ===Chicago Bears=== On July 27, 2021, Hardy signed with the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears).{{cite web|title=Bears sign wide outs Justin Hardy and Jon'Vea Johnson, waive two|url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/7/27/22596980/chicago-bears-sign-former-atlanta-falcons-wide-receiver-justin-hardy-2021-nfl-free-agency|work=Windy City Gridiron|publisher=SB Nation|date=July 27, 2021}} He was released on August 17, 2021.{{Cite news |last=Desai |first=Aalap |date=August 17, 2021 |title=Bears Roster Cuts Update; Roster Trim Down Deadlines |url=https://ontapsportsnet.com/2021/08/17/chicago-bears-roster-cuts-update-nfl-roster-trim-down-deadlines/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=On Tap Sports Net |language=en-US}} === Ottawa Redblacks === On March 18, 2022, Hardy signed with the [Ottawa Redblacks](/source/Ottawa_Redblacks) of the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) (CFL).{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Ex-Falcons WR Hardy among three Americans signed by Redblacks - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/justin-hardy-ottawa-redblacks-1.1772792 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=TSN |language=en}} In 2023, Hardy enjoyed a break-out season with the Redblacks, catching 85 passes for 1,009 yards 3 touchdowns, and was selected as a [CFL East](/source/CFL_East) Division All-Star. In February 2024, his contract with the Redblacks was extended.{{Cite web |title=REDBLACKS extend East Division All-Star Justin Hardy - CFL.ca |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/02/05/redblacks-extend-east-division-all-star-justin-hardy/ |access-date=5 February 2024 |website=cfl.ca|date=February 5, 2024 }} ==Career statistics== '''NFL''' {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD |- ! [2015](/source/2015_NFL_season) !! [ATL](/source/2015_Atlanta_Falcons_season) | 9 || 1 || 21 || 194 || 9.2 || 23 || 0 |- ! [2016](/source/2016_NFL_season) !! [ATL](/source/2016_Atlanta_Falcons_season) | 16 || 3 || 21 || 203 || 9.7 || 27 || 4 |- ! [2017](/source/2017_NFL_season) !! [ATL](/source/2017_Atlanta_Falcons_season) | 16 || 1 || 20 || 221 || 11.1 || 27 || 3 |- ! [2018](/source/2018_NFL_season) !! [ATL](/source/2018_Atlanta_Falcons_season) | 16 || 0 || 14 || 133 || 9.5 || 19 || 2 |- ! [2019](/source/2019_NFL_season) !! [ATL](/source/2019_Atlanta_Falcons_season) | 16 || 1 || 19 || 195 || 10.3 || 23 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardJu00.htm Career] !! 73 !! 6 !! 95 !! 946 !! 10.0 !! 27 !! 9 |} '''CFL''' {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving |- ! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD |- ! [2022](/source/2022_CFL_season) !! [OTT](/source/2022_Ottawa_Redblacks_season) | 7 || 7 || 44 || 416 || 9.5 || 35 || 0 |- ! [2023](/source/2023_CFL_season) !! [OTT](/source/2023_Ottawa_Redblacks_season) | 18 || 18 || 85 || 1,009 || 11.9 || 54 || 3 |- ! [2024](/source/2024_CFL_season) !! [OTT](/source/2024_Ottawa_Redblacks_season) | 16 || 16 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 97 || 1,343 || 13.9 || 68 || 5 |- ! [2025](/source/2025_CFL_season) !! [OTT](/source/2025_Ottawa_Redblacks_season) | 18 || 18 || 78 || 1,019 || 13.1 || 40 || 8 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.cfl.ca/players/justin-hardy/166421/ Career] !! 59 !! 59 !! 304 !! 3,787 !! 12.5 !! 68 !! 16 |} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category|Justin Hardy}} *[http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/justin_hardy_714361.html East Carolina Pirates bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074245/http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/justin_hardy_714361.html |date=October 6, 2014 }} *{{Twitter|FreakMagic2}} {{Ottawa Redblacks roster navbox}} {{Burlsworth Trophy}} {{Atlanta Falcons 2015 draft navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Justin}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American football wide receivers Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:East Carolina Pirates football players Category:People from Craven County, North Carolina Category:Players of American football from North Carolina Category:Ottawa Redblacks players Category:Canadian football wide receivers Category:Players of Canadian football from North Carolina Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Justin Hardy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hardy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hardy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.