View source for John Hadl

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1940–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox gridiron football biography
| name           = John Hadl
| image          = John Hadl 1971.jpg
| caption        = Hadl in 1971
| number         = 21, 12
| position       = {{hlist|[[Quarterback]]|[[Punter (gridiron football)|Punter]]|}}
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1940|2|15}}
| birth_place    = [[Lawrence, Kansas]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2022|11|30|1940|2|15}}
| death_place    = Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 1
| weight_lb      = 214
| high_school    = [[Lawrence High School (Kansas)|Lawrence]]
| college        = [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]] (1959–1961)
| draftyear      = 1962
| draftround     = 1
| draftpick      = 10
| afldraftyear   = 1962
| afldraftround  = 3
| afldraftpick   = 24
| pastteams      =
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ([[1962 American Football League season|1962]]–{{NFL Year|1972}})
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1973|1974}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] (1974–{{NFL Year|1975}})
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]] (1978) <br> Quarterbacks coach
* Kansas (1979–1981) <br> Offensive coordinator
* Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1982}}) <br> Offensive coordinator
* Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1983}}) <br> Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach
* [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]] ({{USFL Year|1984}}–{{USFL Year|1985}}) <br> Head coach
| highlights     =
* [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1963 American Football League Championship Game|1963]])
* [[Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award|NFL Man of the Year]] (1971)
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]])
* 2× Second-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] ([[1965 All-AFL Team|1965]], [[1966 All-AFL Team|1966]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]])
* 4× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)
* [[List of National Football League annual passing yards leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (1971)
* [[List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1971)
* 2× [[List of National Football League annual passing yards leaders#AFL annual passing yards leaders|AFL passing yards leader]] (1965, 1968)
* [[List of AFL passing touchdowns leaders|AFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1968)
* [[Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame]]
* 2× First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1960 College Football All-America Team|1960]], [[1961 College Football All-America Team|1961]])
* 2× First-team All-[[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]] ([[1960 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1960]], [[1961 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1961]])
* Second-team All-Big Eight ([[1959 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1959]])
* [[Kansas Jayhawks football#Retired numbers|Kansas Jayhawks No. 21]] retired
| statleague     = NFL/AFL
| statlabel1     = Passing attempts
| statvalue1     = 4,687
| statlabel2     = Passing completions
| statvalue2     = 2,363
| statlabel3     = Completion percentage
| statvalue3     = 50.4%
| statlabel4     = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4     = 244–268
| statlabel5     = Passing yards
| statvalue5     = 33,503
| statlabel6     = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6     = 67.4
| statlabel7     = Rushing yards
| statvalue7     = 1,112
| statlabel8     = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue8     = 16
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|13|23|record=y}}
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|1|1|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|14|24|record=y}}
| pfr            = HadlJo00
| pfrcoach       = HadlJo0
| CollegeHOF     = 1909 
}}

'''John Willard Hadl''' <small>(''Pronounced:'' HAY-dull)</small> (February 15, 1940 – November 30, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] for 16 years in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL). He won an [[American Football League playoffs|AFL championship]] with the [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] in 1963. Hadl was named an [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] four times and was selected to two [[Pro Bowl]]s. He was inducted into the [[Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame|Chargers Hall of Fame]].

Hadl played [[college football]] for the [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas Jayhawks]]. A two-time [[All-America college football team|All-American]], he was elected to the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. Hadl played in three AFL title games with San Diego before the [[AFL–NFL merger|league's merger with the NFL]]. He finished his career with the [[Los Angeles Rams]], the [[Green Bay Packers]] and the [[Houston Oilers]]. He also played as a [[punter (gridiron football)|punter]] for five seasons.

==Early life==
Hadl was born in [[Lawrence, Kansas]], to Jess and Judy Hadl. His father was a mechanic. Hadl attended [[Lawrence High School (Kansas)|Lawrence High School]], where he was an all-state [[halfback (American football)|halfback]].<ref name=goldstein_11302022/>

==College career==
Hadl enrolled at the [[University of Kansas]], where he played for his hometown [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Jayhawks]].<ref name=skretta_11302022/> After playing halfback on both [[Offense (sports)|offense]] and [[Defense (sports)|defense]] as a sophomore, he played [[quarterback]] for his last two years, and was selected as the school's Player of the Century.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2014/10/1/6875775/know-your-ku-history-john-hadl|website=Rock Chalk Talk|agency=[[SB Nation]]|title=Know Your KU History: John Hadl|date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> He was an [[All-America college football team|All-American]] at halfback in 1960 and at quarterback in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=November 30, 2022 |title=John Hadl, former Chargers quarterback, dies at age of 82 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/former-chargers-qb-john-hadl-dies-at-age-82 |access-date=2025-04-29 |publisher=[[National Football League]]}}</ref>

Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America ([[1960 All-America college football team|1960]] and [[1961 All-America college football team|1961]]) honors.<ref name=rc_07192018/> Hadl also excelled as a [[defensive back]], [[Return specialist#Punt returner|punt returner]], and [[Punter (gridiron football)|punter]]; he led the country with a 45.6-yard punting average in 1959.<ref name=":1"/> Hadl's No. 21 jersey is one of only three Kansas has [[retired number|retired]].<ref name=skretta_11302022/><ref name=rc_07192018>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2018/7/19/17572758/44-days-until-kansas-jayhawks-football-ring-of-honor-rundown |title=44 Days Until Kansas Football: Ring of Honor Rundown |last=Plank |first=Mike |date=July 19, 2018 |website=Rock Chalk Talk |access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> Hadl was picked for the all-conference team for three seasons, and wound up with 1,345 yards passing and 1,041 yards rushing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/john-hadl-1.html |title=John Hadl College Stats |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> Hadl still holds two Kansas records: longest interception return, a 98-yard run against [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]] and longest punt, 94 yards versus [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]].<ref name=":1" />

With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top 20 during his junior and senior years, finishing 15–5–2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=November 30, 2022 |title=John Hadl, Kansas Jayhawks Legend, Passes Away at 82 |url=https://www.heartlandcollegesports.com/2022/11/30/john-hadl-kansas-jayhawks-legend-passes-away-at-82/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Heartland College Sports}}</ref> He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to a 33–7 win over [[Rice Owls football|Rice]] in the [[Bluebonnet Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Werner |first=Barry |date=November 30, 2022 |title=Great Kansas, Chargers quarterback John Hadl dies at 82 |url=https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2022/11/30/great-kansas-chargers-quarterback-john-hadl-dies-at-82/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Touchdown Wire|publisher=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> He was also named MVP in the [[East–West Shrine Bowl|East–West Shrine Game]] and the College All-Star Game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/john-hadl-dies-at-82-six-time-pro-bowl-quarterback-starred-for-chargers-rams-during-16-year-career/|work=[[CBS Sports]]|title=John Hadl dies at 82: Six-time Pro Bowl quarterback starred for Chargers, Rams during 16-year career |author=McCarriston, Shanna|date=November 30, 2022}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===San Diego Chargers===
Hadl played at {{height|ft=6|in=1}} and {{convert|210|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":0" /> He joined the [[American Football League]]'s [[San Diego Chargers]] in [[1962 San Diego Chargers season|1962]], having decided to play with them over the [[1962 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] (who selected him in the first round (tenth overall) of the [[1962 NFL draft|NFL draft]]).<ref name=skretta_11302022>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2022-11-30/john-hadle-six-time-pro-bowl-quarterback-who-led-the-chargers-and-rams-dies|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=John Hadl, six time Pro Bowl quarterback who led both the Chargers and Rams, dies |last=Skretta|first=Dave|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=November 30, 2022}}</ref>

Hadl played in each game of his first season, although his use was more often in the second half than the first despite starting ten of fourteen games.<ref name=":0" /> His first pass in the AFL was a fifteen-yard touchdown pass to [[Bob Jackson (American football)|Bobby Jackson]] near the end of a 30–21 loss to the [[1962 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HadlJo00.htm|title=John Hadl 1962 Game Log|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196209070den.htm|title=San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos - September 7th, 1962|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> He made his first start with the September 23 game against the Houston Oilers, although he went 1-of-4 for six yards before being taken out for [[Dick Wood]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196209230sdg.htm|title=Houston Oilers at San Diego Chargers - September 23rd, 1962|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Chargers had three quarterbacks during that season, including [[Jack Kemp]]. Hadl had his highs and lows during this time, such as throwing three touchdowns along with three interceptions (the first of three games with three interceptions) on 7-of-14 passes against [[1962 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland]] in a 42–33 win. He won just one of his nine starts, doing so in a 11-of-24 effort for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception game versus Oakland on December 2, 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196212020sdg.htm|title=Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers - December 2nd, 1962|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Although the Chargers won four games that year, they improved to eleven in [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|1963]], owing to the acquisition of 35-year old [[Tobin Rote]] as the new starting quarterback.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/148994-late-charge-championship-season-at-35|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|title=Tobin Rote's Late Charge: Championship Season at 35|date=April 1, 2009|author=Madro, Thom}}</ref> While Rote started each game, Hadl did take action in mop-up duty, throwing 28-of-64 for 502 combined yards and six touchdowns and interceptions. In [[1963 American Football League Championship Game|the AFL championship game]], Rote and Hadl both got to play substantially against [[1963 Boston Patriots season|Boston]], as they blew out the Patriots 51–10, with Hadl going 7-of-11 for 132 yards with both a passing and a rushing touchdown. Hadl also made two punts for the Chargers, kicking two of them for 75 yards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/1963.htm|title=1963 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196401050sdg.htm|title=Championship - Boston Patriots at San Diego Chargers - January 5th, 1964|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

[[1964 San Diego Chargers season|The following year]], Hadl started eight of the fourteen games while Rote did the other six. Hadl went 6-2 while throwing for 2,157 yards on eighteen touchdowns and fifteen interceptions with a 53.6 completion percentage, and he was named an AFL All-Star. However, in the [[1964 American Football League Championship Game|1964 AFL championship game]], it was Rote who started against the [[1963 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] and old teammate Kemp, now quarterbacking the opponent. After Rote threw a miserable 10-of-26 for 118 yards and a touchdown with a hobbled receiving corps ([[Lance Alworth]] and [[Keith Lincoln]] each suffered injury), Hadl was put in, but he went 3-of-10 for 31 yards and an interception as the Chargers lost 20–7.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/1964.htm|title=1964 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196412260buf.htm|title=Championship - San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills - December 26th, 1964|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Hadl's punting duties increased, as he punted 62 times for 2,447 yards, with one of the kicks going 71 yards.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/hadl00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=John Hadl Stats}}</ref>

In [[1965 San Diego Chargers season|1965]], he was named San Diego's [[Starting lineup|starting]] quarterback and led the team to a 9–2–3 record while throwing 2,798 yards (a league high) for twenty touchdowns and 21 interceptions and a 50.0 completion percentage, all good for a second straight AFL-All Star appearance. Hadl made his third and final appearance in the [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|AFL championship game]] that year. In his only start in said game, facing the [[1965 Buffalo Bills season|Bills]] again, Hadl threw 11-of-23 for 140 yards and two interceptions as the Chargers were trounced 23–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512260sdg.htm|title=Championship - Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers - December 26th, 1965|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Hadl made punts for the second and last regular time, punting 38 times for 1,544 yards. Hadl would punt just three times for a hundred yards over the course of two separate seasons.<ref name=":2" />

[[File:John Hadl 1969.jpg|thumb|Hadl in 1969]]
The [[1966 San Diego Chargers season|following year]], he started twelve of fourteen games ([[Steve Tensi]] started the other two).<ref name=":3" /> Hadl went 7–4–1 while throwing 2,846 yards for 23 touchdowns and fourteen interceptions for a 53.3 completion percentage, although the Chargers third-ranked offense was not enough for a playoff spot for the first time in four years.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1966aflsd.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1966 San Diego Chargers (AFL)}}</ref> Hadl began a streak during the fifth game of the season. On October 8, he threw a touchdown pass against the [[1966 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]. For the rest of the season, Hadl would throw for at least one touchdown pass, and the streak would continue into the next season - his nineteen-game streak (October 8, 1966 - November 19, 1967) with at least one touchdown pass would be the longest streak by a quarterback in the [[American Football League]]. Hadl played in each game of the [[1967 San Diego Chargers season|1967]] season, going 8–5–1 for 3,365 yards with 24 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while having a 50.8 completion percentage, and he led the league in yards gained per pass completion with 15.5. He&nbsp;improved further in [[1968 San Diego Chargers season|1968]], leading the league in completions, attempts, yards (3,473), touchdowns (27), and interceptions (32, which was a career high) while having a 47.3 completion percentage and an All-Star selection. Despite going 9–5, it was only good enough for third place in the Western Division. In the final season of the AFL in 1969, the Chargers were a team in turmoil. Famed coach (and future member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]) [[Sid Gillman]] resigned due to health problems after going 4–5. Hadl played in ten games while [[Marty Domres]] started four games, and Hadl won five of his starts. He passed for 2,253 yards with ten touchdowns and eleven interceptions for a 48.8 completion percentage, and Hadl was named an AFL All-Star once again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/1969.htm|title=1969 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In the [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Game]], he was named Most Valuable Player.

The Chargers had their fortunes dwindle in the prevailing years after the [[AFL–NFL merger]], as they did not have another winning season until [[1978 San Diego Chargers season|1978]]. Hadl quarterbacked San Diego for the first three of those seasons. In&nbsp;[[1970 San Diego Chargers season|1970]], he went 4–5–3 while passing for 2,388 yards with 22 touchdowns and fifteen interceptions for a 49.5 completion percentage. He had prime numbers in the following year, as he led the league in completions, attempts, yards (3,075), touchdowns (21), and yards per game (219.6) while throwing for 25 interceptions and a 54.1 completion percentage with a 6–8 record. Hadl became the second quarterback in history to lead two different leagues in passing yards (the first was [[Otto Graham]]), and it was third time in six years (1965, 1968) that he had led in passing.

In his final year with the Chargers in [[1972 San Diego Chargers season|1972]], he went 4–9–1, passing for 2,449 yards with fifteen touchdowns and 26 interceptions (a league high) while having a 51.4 completion percentage and a Pro Bowl selection.

===Los Angeles Rams===
Hadl was traded to the [[1973 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] in January {{nfly|1973}} for [[defensive end]] [[Coy Bacon]] and running back [[Bob Thomas (running back)|Bob Thomas]].<ref name=hgtorms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mBonAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4265%2C6059667 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=wire service reports |title=Hadl goes to Rams; Gabriel may leave |date=January 26, 1973 |page=3D}}</ref><ref name=hdsupg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=989OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-wEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3348%2C2214335 |work=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Hadl deal stirs up Gabriel |date=January 26, 1973 |page=18}}</ref> In&nbsp;his only full season with the Rams, he had his first winning season since 1968 and first playoff appearance since 1965 as he led them to a 12–2 record, passing for 2,008 yards with 22 touchdowns and eleven interceptions while having a 52.3 completion percentage. He was named the [[UPI NFC Player of the Year|National Football Conference (NFC) Player of the Year]] by [[United Press International|UPI]] and selected to the [[1974 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]] that season.<ref name=goldstein_11302022/> In the [[1973–74 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] that year, the Rams faced the  [[1973 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] (10–4) at [[Texas Stadium]], as the NFL playoffs at the time only included eight teams with rotated hosting duties. He went 7-of-23 for 133 yards with an interception as they lost 27–16; a late fourth quarter rally in which the Rams cut a 17 point deficit to one point was blunted when [[Drew Pearson (American football)|Drew Pearson]] caught a short pass and went 83 yards for a touchdown when two Ram defenders collided.<ref name=rcpdpr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=patVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2911%2C6318544 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Roger's call pulls Dallas past Rams |date=December 24, 1973 |page=1B}}</ref>

The [[1974 Los Angeles Rams season|following year]] was a turning point for two franchises. Hadl started the first five games for the Rams, then was replaced by [[James "Shack" Harris|James Harris]] during an upset loss to the [[1974 Green Bay Packers|Green Bay Packers]] in [[Milwaukee County Stadium|Milwaukee]] to fall to 3–2.<ref name=stpckb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ovNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3258%2C99942 |work=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Startling Pack batters Rams |date=October 14, 1974 |page=18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HadlJo00.htm|title=John Hadl 1974 Game Log|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The next game, a 37–14 home win over [[49ers–Rams rivalry|rival]] [[1974 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]], was the first NFL start for Harris,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t8dVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6921%2C5422408 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Hadl helps call plays Rams' Harris rips 49ers |date=October 21, 1974 |page=5D}}</ref> and 34-year-old Hadl was traded two days later to Green Bay for five draft picks—first and second round picks for 1975 and 1976, as well as a third round pick in 1975.<ref name=hdltsw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ucdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5154%2C5831703 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Hadl dealt as NFL clubs switch QBs |date=October 23, 1974 |page=1D}}</ref>

===Green Bay Packers===
Reportedly, head coach and general manager [[Dan Devine]] felt that an experienced quarterback was the only thing standing between the Packers and only their second playoff appearance since [[1967 Green Bay Packers season|1967]], and it came about after an attempted trade for [[Archie Manning]] and the [[New Orleans Saints]] fell through.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thepowersweep.com/blog/the-john-hadl-disaster?format=amp|title=The John Hadl Disaster|website=thepowersweep.com|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208161401/https://thepowersweep.com/blog/the-john-hadl-disaster?format=amp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The trade turned out to be an unmitigated disaster; it is reckoned as one of the worst (if not ''the'' worst) trades for a starting quarterback in NFL history, at least in terms of relevance. Devine had led them to a combined record of 19—19–4 in his first three seasons, which included a playoff loss in [[1972 Green Bay Packers season|1972]]. The Packers finished 6–8 in 1974 and Devine left for [[1975 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]], which left the door open for [[Bart Starr]] to take over as head coach. While he would lead them to one playoff win as a coach, Starr had just three of nine seasons with eight wins.

At the same time, the Rams used the picks acquired in the trade to acquire many of the players that allowed them to dominate the [[NFC West]] for the rest of the 1970s and lead them to an appearance in [[Super Bowl XIV]].<ref name=PFW>{{cite news|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/21/a-look-back-at-the-hadl-trade |title=A look back at the Hadl trade |last=Beacom |first=Mike |publisher=[[Pro Football Weekly]] |date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224145017/http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/21/a-look-back-at-the-hadl-trade |archive-date=December 24, 2011 }}</ref>  In later years, when asked for his thoughts on the infamous deal, Hadl himself expressed the surprise he felt, in 1974, at being sent to Green Bay: "I really didn't believe it... I didn't think anyone would be that desperate."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/195472911.html
|title=Packers trade for John Hadl |date=October 22, 1974 |work=Milwaukee Journal |last=Kupper |first=Mike |access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref>

Meanwhile, with a combined record of 6–5 on two teams, Hadl threw for 1,752 yards with eight touchdowns and fourteen interceptions and a 47.5 completion percentage. His only full season with the Packers was in 1975, and with a miserable front line, he threw for six touchdowns and 21 interceptions for 2,095 yards and a 54.1 completion percentage while being sacked 35 times in a 4–9 season.

===Houston Oilers===
Hadl moved to the [[1976 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] in {{nfly|1976}}, mostly in mop up duty for starter [[Dan Pastorini]].  He started six games over two seasons and won just once while throwing seven total touchdowns to eleven interceptions for 710 yards.

Despite his tenure with Green Bay, Hadl finished with a [[List of NFL career quarterback wins leaders|starting record]] of 82–76–9 in his professional career. At the time of his retirement, Hadl was sixth all time in wins at the quarterback position with 82. With the exception of [[Roman Gabriel]], each of those quarterbacks are in the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]. He&nbsp;ranks 40th in all-time wins, although he has more wins than Hall of Famers that played in his era such as [[Sonny Jurgensen]], [[Joe Namath]], and [[George Blanda]].

Hadl holds the NFL record for the most tied games (nine) by a starting quarterback. Hadl wore No. 21 for nearly his entire NFL career, aside from his first season with Green Bay when he briefly wore No. 12. He was the last regular starting quarterback to wear a uniform number greater than No. 19 before the NFL adopted a rigid uniform numbering system in 1973. Hadl was still on the top ten of most touchdowns thrown by a quarterback as late as 1999 (over twenty years after retirement), with him and two others in that list not being members of the Hall of Fame ([[Dave Krieg]] and [[Boomer Esiason]] being the others), as his former peak of fifth has receded to 26 with the advent of increased passing in subsequent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_td_career_1999.htm|title=NFL Career Passing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1999|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Hadl was inducted into the [[Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame|Chargers Hall of Fame]] in 1983.<ref>{{cite book|title=2010 San Diego Chargers Media Guide |publisher=San Diego Chargers |year=2010 |page=231 |url=http://prod.static.chargers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/pdf/2010/2010-Media-Guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922104711/http://prod.static.chargers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/pdf/2010/2010-Media-Guide.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named him to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2006.htm |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2006 |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118214852/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2006.htm |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Coaching and administrative career==
Upon retiring as a player after the 1977 season, Hadl returned to his alma mater and served as quarterback coach under [[Bud Moore (American football)|Bud Moore]] at the University of Kansas in 1978. From 1979 to 1981, he remained at KU, moving up to offensive coordinator under new head coach [[Don Fambrough]]. At this time, he was pegged as the "unnamed assistant football coach" who provided improper benefits to Kansas recruits in the early 1980s, resulting in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] imposing sanctions on the football program. Hadl consistently denied any wrongdoing and his tenure with Kansas athletics hasn't yielded any suggestion of rules violations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/1983/dec/01/long_wait_ends_ncaa_announces_kansas_football_pena/|title=Long wait ends; NCAA announces Kansas football penalty|first=J.-W. Staff|last=Reports|date=December 1, 1983|website=KUsports.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cjonline.com/stories/020308/haw_243229088.shtml|title=Hadl Profile from ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''}}</ref>

Unable to return to the program after 1981, he moved on to the [[Los Angeles Rams]] as an assistant coach in 1982. In 1983, he joined the [[Denver Broncos]] as the quarterback coach, where he was tasked with turning highly touted draft pick [[John Elway]] into a franchise quarterback.<ref name=goldstein_11302022>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/sports/football/john-hadl-dead.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|title=John Hadl, Standout Quarterback of the A.F.L., Dies at 82|author=Goldstein, Richard|date=November 30, 2022}}</ref>

After one season, Hadl decided to move on and became the head coach of the [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]] of the [[United States Football League]] (USFL) during 1984 and 1985, compiling a record of 13–23 in the regular season, 1–1 in the postseason. Hadl would later call this decision a "career blunder."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhistory.com/john-hadl/|website=ProFootballHistory.com|title=The Life And Career Of John Hadl|author=Marvi, Robert|date=March 27, 2022 }}</ref>

Hadl ended his career as associate [[athletic director]] at the University of Kansas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.kusports.com/news/2022/nov/30/legendary-jayhawk-and-lawrence-native-john-hadl-di/?football|website=KU Sports|title=Legendary Jayhawk and Lawrence native John Hadl dies at age 82|author=Tait, Matt|date=November 30, 2022}}</ref>

==Death==
Hadl died on November 30, 2022, at the age of 82.<ref name="j130">{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Madison | title=Former Chargers Quarterback John Hadl Dies at 82 | website=SI.com | date=2022-12-01 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/12/01/former-chargers-kansas-quarterback-john-hadl-dies-82 | access-date=2024-10-17}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[American Football League|AFL Championship]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1962 AFL season|1962]] !! [[1962 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 10 || 1–9 || 107 || 260 || 41.2 || 1,632 || 6.3 || 15 || 24 || 43.3 || '''40''' || 139 || 3.5 || 1
|-
! [[1963 AFL season|1963]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1963 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 0 || — || 28 || 64 || 43.8 || 502 || 7.8 || 6 || 6 || 63.4 || 8 || 26 || 3.3 || 0
|-
! [[1964 AFL season|1964]] !! [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 8 || 6–2 || 147 || 274 || 53.6 || 2,157 || 7.9 || 18 || 15 || 78.7 || 20 || 70 || 3.5 || 1
|-
! [[1965 AFL season|1965]] !! [[1965 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 14 || 9–2–3 || 174 || 348 || 50.0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 2,798 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''8.0''' || 20 || 21 || 71.3 || 28 || 91 || 3.3 || 1
|-
! [[1966 AFL season|1966]] !! [[1966 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 12 || 7–4–1 || 200 || 375 || 53.3 || 2,846 || 7.6 || 23 || 14 || 83.0 || 38 || 95 || 2.5 || 2
|-
! [[1967 AFL season|1967]] !! [[1967 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 14 || 8–5–1 || 217 || 427 || 50.8 || 3,365 || 7.9 || 24 || 22 || 74.5 || 37 || 107 || 2.9 || '''3'''
|-
! [[1968 AFL season|1968]] !! [[1968 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 14 || 9–5 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 208 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''440''' || 47.3 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''3,473''' || 7.9 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''27''' ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''32''' || 64.5 || 23 || 14 || 0.6 || 2
|-
! [[1969 AFL season|1969]] !! [[1969 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 10 || 5–5 || 158 || 324 || 48.8 || 2,253 || 7.0 || 10 || 11 || 67.8 || 26 || 109 || 4.2 || 2
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 12 || 4–5–3 || 162 || 327 || 49.5 || 2,388 || 7.3 || 22 || 15 || 77.1 || 28 || '''188''' || '''6.7''' || 1
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 14 || 6–8 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''233''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 431 || '''54.1''' ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 3,075 || 7.1 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 21 || 25 || 68.9 || 18 || 75 || 4.2 || 1
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! [[1972 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 14 || 14 || 4–9–1 || 190 || 370 || 51.4 || 2,449 || 6.6 || 15 ||  style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 26 || 56.7 || 22 || 99 || 4.5 || 1
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! [[1973 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]] 
| 14 || 14 || 12–2 || 135 || 258 || 52.3 || 2,008 || 7.8 || 22 || 11 || '''88.8''' ||  14 || 5 || 0.4 || 0
|-
! rowspan="2"|[[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 6 || 5 || 3–2 || 53 || 115 || 46.1 || 680 || 5.9 || 5 || 6 || 57.9 || 11 || 28 || 2.5 || 0
|-
! [[1974 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 8 || 6 || 3–3 || 89 || 184 || 48.4 || 1,072 || 5.8 || 3 || 8 || 54.0 || 8 || -3 || -0.4 || 0
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 14 || 13 || 4–9 || 191 || 353 || 54.1 || 2,095 || 5.9 || 6 || 21 || 52.8 || 20 || 47 || 2.4 || 0
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 14 || 4 || 1–3 || 60 || 113 || 53.1 || 634 || 5.6 || 7 || 8 || 60.9 || 7 || 11 || 1.6 || 0
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 14 || 2 || 0–2 || 11 || 24 || 48.5 || 76 || 3.2 || 0 || 3 || 13.9 ||  3 || 11 || 3.7 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| Career || 224 || 166 || 82–75–9 || 2,363 || 4,687 || 50.4 || 33,503 || 7.1 || 244 || 268 || 67.4 || 351 || 1,112 || 3.2 || 16
|}

===Postseason statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1963 American Football League Championship Game|1963]] !! [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 1 || 0 || — || 7 || 11 || 63.6 || 132 || 12.0 || 1 || 0 || 135.4 || 1 || 1 || 1.0 || 1
|-
! [[1964 American Football League Championship Game|1964]] !! [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 1 || 0 || — || 3 || 10 || 30.0 || 31 || 3.1 || 0 || 1 || 0.4 || 1 || 13 || 13.0 || 0
|-
! [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|1965]] !! [[1965 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] 
| 1 || 1 || 0–1 || 11 || 23 || 47.8 || 140 || 6.1 || 0 || 2 || 31.1 || 8 || 24 || 3.0 || 0
|-
! [[1972–73 NFL playoffs|1973]] !! [[1973 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]] 
| 1 || 1 || 0–1 || 7 || 23 || 30.4 || 133 || 5.8 || 0 || 1 || 33.4 || 2 || 10 || 5.0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career || 4 || 2 || 0–2 || 28 || 67 || 41.8 || 436 || 6.5 || 1 || 4 || 44.1 || 12 || 48 || 4.0 || 1
|}

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]
* [[List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players#Consecutive games played|List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kansas Jayhawks quarterback navbox}}
{{San Diego Chargers starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Green Bay Packers starting quarterbacks}}
{{Tennessee Titans starting quarterback navbox}}
{{1962 NFL Draft}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1962 draft navbox}}
{{1963 San Diego Chargers}}
{{Lions1962DraftPicks}}
{{LionsFirstPick}}
{{American Football League passing yardage leaders}}
{{American Football League passing touchdown leaders}}
{{NFL passing touchdown leaders}}
{{NFL passing yardage leaders}}
{{Walter Payton Man of the Year Award}}
{{50Chargers}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hadl, John}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
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[[Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers players]]
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[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:NCAA sanctions]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Lawrence, Kansas]]
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