Star Quarterback For San Diego Chargers Was 82 – Deadline

Quarterback John Hadl, one of many stars of the upstart American Soccer League who appeared in six Professional Bowls and had one All-Professional nod, died Wednesday. He was 82 and no trigger was given.

Hadl was the chief of a powerful vertical sport within the pass-crazy AFL, throwing deep to receivers like Lance Alworth and Gary Garrison. Along with enjoying quarterback, Hadl was additionally a punter. After greater than a decade with the Chargers (who later moved to Los Angeles), Hadl was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, and led that group to the playoffs.

His efforts there led to him being named the Nationwide Soccer Convention Participant of the Yr. He was later traded to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, and completed up with the Houston Oilers.

Throughout 16 skilled seasons within the AFL and post-merger NFL, Hadl threw for greater than 33,000 yards.

His loss of life was introduced by the College of Kansas, the place his sterling profession led him to be named to the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.

“John Hadl had a generational influence on Kansas soccer,” Jayhawks athletic director Travis Goff mentioned. “He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with numerous, and the final word ambassador for KU. In brief, our college and athletic program has been reworked by John and his legacy will perpetually be cemented. Our deepest ideas and prayers are with [wife] Diana and the Hadl household.”

Hadl was chosen tenth total by the Detroit Lions in 1962 within the NFL draft and twenty fourth total by the San Diego Chargers within the AFL draft, the place he selected to pursue his profession.

After retiring in 1977, Hadl returned to Kansas as an assistant, serving to the Jayhawks to the 1981 Corridor of Fame Bowl. He later coached for the Rams, the Broncos and the Los Angeles Specific of the USFL earlier than returning to Kansas in 1988, the place he spent the following 30 years as a prolific fundraiser for the Williams Schooling Fund.

Hadl’s No. 21 is considered one of three numbers retired by Kansas. The varsity additionally has a statue of Hadl outdoors its Anderson Household Soccer Complicated.