John Hadl was a quarterback who helped the San Diego Chargers to victory at the AFL Championship in 1963.
- Died: November 30, 2022 (Who else died on November 30?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 82.
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Football career
After playing high school football in Lawrence, Kansas as an all-state halfback, Hadl attended the University of Kansas. Starting his college career as halfback and moving to quarterback after two years, he was twice chosen as an All-American, the first Jayhawk to receive that honor twice. He was named Kansas’ Player of the Century. Hadl was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1962 NFL draft, but he chose to play with the AFL’s Chargers instead. After his integral role in the Chargers’ 1963 championship win, Hadl became the Chargers’ starting quarterback in 1965. He was a four-time AFL All-Star and a two-time Pro Bowl pick. Traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1973, he also played for the Green Bay Packers and Houston Oilers before his 1977 retirement. Hadl went on to coach at Kansas as well as for the Rams, Denver Broncos, and the USFL’s Los Angeles Express. Later, he became associate athletic director at Kansas. Hadl was a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, and the University of Kansas retired his No. 21 jersey.
Tributes to John Hadl
Full obituary: Lawrence Journal-World
