John Willard Hadl (born Feb. 15, 1940 in Lawrence, Kansas) was a professional American football player. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's Player of the Century. He was an All-American at running back in 1960 and at quarterback in 1961. |
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He is 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 210 lb (95 kg). He joined the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1962. He shared quarterbacking duties until 1966, when he became San Diego's starting quarterback, and averaged over 3,000 yards and 23 tds per (14-game) season for the next four years. He was the American Football League's leading passer in both 1965 and 1968, and was a four-time AFL All-Star. In 1969, he was selected as the AFL All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
Before the 1973 season, Hadl was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive end Coy Bacon and running back Bob Thomas. Leading the Rams to the playoffs that year, he was named the National Football Conference Player of the Year. Hadl was traded to the Green Bay Packers the next season when he was beaten out for the starting quarterback position by James Harris. Hadl was also head coach of the Los Angeles Express football team of the USFL from 1984 to 1985, compiling a record of 13-23 in the regular season, 1-1 in the post-season.
Hadl is currently an associate athletic director in the University of Kansas athletic department, despite the widespread belief that he was the "unnamed assistant football coach" at KU that provided improper benefits to recruits in the early 1980s in violation of NCAA regulations.
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