Jim Hart
The quarterback who led the 'Cardiac Cards' to back-to-back NFC East titles and holds nearly every major passing record for the franchise.
James Warren Hart played quarterback in the NFL from 1966 through 1984. He spent his first 18 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his career with the Washington Redskins in 1984. A Southern Illinois Salukis alumnus, he was signed by the Cardinals after going undrafted in 1966.
- Role
- Quarterback
- Affiliation
- St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983), Washington Redskins (1984)
- Years Active
- 1966–1984
- Status
- Retired
- Records Held
- Most passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions, wins, and
- Honors
- 4x Pro Bowl selections, NFC Player of the Year (1974), All-NFC (1974), Second-te
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hart started all 14 games in 1967, setting career highs with 3,008 yards and 30 interceptions. Under coach Don Coryell from 1974 to 1976, he guided the Cardinals to three straight ten-plus-win seasons and back-to-back NFC East crowns. He led the team to their first playoff game in 26 years on December 21, 1974, though they lost to Minnesota. In 1975, he threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns in a loss to the Rams. By 1983, Neil Lomax had taken over as the starter, and Hart made his final start against Kansas City on October 2.
In Their Own Story
On December 17, 1966, Hart entered relief of Terry Nofsinger in a game against Cleveland after Charley Johnson fulfilled an ROTC commitment. He completed four of 11 passes for 29 yards in a 38–10 loss. Years later, on October 7, 1984, his appearance marked his 200th start at quarterback, making him the 10th player to reach that milestone.
Reader's Guide
Hart played 201 games and went 87–88–5 as a starter. He threw for 9,979 yards in his final four seasons alone, accumulating 52 touchdowns and 72 interceptions over that span. His career total includes 243 sacks. In 1967, he became the sixth player in history to throw 30 interceptions in a single season. He was named NFC Player of the Year by UPI and earned All-NFC and second-team All-Pro honors in 1974.
Did You Know?
- Hart was not drafted in 1966; he signed with the Cardinals after a tryout invited by his former college coach, Don Shroyer.
- In the 1977 Pro Bowl, Hart threw five interceptions, setting the record for the most in Pro Bowl history.
- Hart and teammate Dan Dierdorf opened 'Dierdorf and Hart's Steak House' in 1983, which operated for 30 years before closing in 2013.
- After retiring from football, Hart served as the athletic director for Southern Illinois University Carbondale from 1989 to 1999.