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Lost in an era that had Roger Staubach, Fran Tarkenton, Bob Griese, Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, and other gun slingers, Jim Hart was the lab rat for an innovative way to run an offense. Never playing for teams blessed with great defenses, the Cardinals offense was often up there with the best of them. Also, he played in a division with the Cowboys and Redskins often fighting it out with them for division supremacy. He started 180 of 199 games in an 18 year career for the St. Louis Cardinals who would replace him often, especially early in his career but in the end the team always fell back onto him. In games where he was credited with a win, loss, or tie, he went 87-88-5. Not a stellar win/loss record, and a glaring 0-2 playoff record. But his passing numbers are a little better:
2593 of 5076 for a 51.1 comp %. Again, not stellar but not bad considering when he played the rules were very different than they are today but he did throw for 34,665 yards which is an impressive state even by today's standards. I equate this to a baseball player hitting 500 home runs. His 207 TD's are overshadowed by his 247 interceptions(including a whopping 30 in 1967). But his ability to lead the Cards in comebacks helped earn the team the name of Cardiac Cards. The amazing thing is how he came into the league in the first place. Back in the days when the NFL draft was an amazing 20 rounds, Hart was not drafted and walked onto the Cards in 1966 as an UDFA. That year, the Cards drafted 3 other QB's to compliment starter Charlie Johnson and backup Terry Nofsinger giving the Cards 7 training camp QB's. 2 of those drafted were taken in the top 10. In that crowded field, Jim Hart made the team. The following season, he was named the starter throwing for a then ridiculous 3,008 yards in an era where only a few QB's would pass for 3,000 yards.
Now, if you compare him with other QB's of the time who are in the hall of fame, he definitely belongs in there. Joe Namath, if you look at his numbers, they are very pedestrian. Overall, Hart's numbers are better. But Namath was flamboyant, won a Super Bowl, and played in NY. His numbers are also better than Ken Stabler, Bob Greise, Bobby Layne, and are comparable to Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, & Bart Starr. Hart's lack of success in the playoffs shouldn't keep him out of the hall of fame as it wasn't his fault the team never had a competitive defense. He helped put up enough points on offense to win many more games then he won. Some may disagree but yes, he does deserve to be in the hall. Sadly, in today's climate, he will never be considered.
2593 of 5076 for a 51.1 comp %. Again, not stellar but not bad considering when he played the rules were very different than they are today but he did throw for 34,665 yards which is an impressive state even by today's standards. I equate this to a baseball player hitting 500 home runs. His 207 TD's are overshadowed by his 247 interceptions(including a whopping 30 in 1967). But his ability to lead the Cards in comebacks helped earn the team the name of Cardiac Cards. The amazing thing is how he came into the league in the first place. Back in the days when the NFL draft was an amazing 20 rounds, Hart was not drafted and walked onto the Cards in 1966 as an UDFA. That year, the Cards drafted 3 other QB's to compliment starter Charlie Johnson and backup Terry Nofsinger giving the Cards 7 training camp QB's. 2 of those drafted were taken in the top 10. In that crowded field, Jim Hart made the team. The following season, he was named the starter throwing for a then ridiculous 3,008 yards in an era where only a few QB's would pass for 3,000 yards.
Now, if you compare him with other QB's of the time who are in the hall of fame, he definitely belongs in there. Joe Namath, if you look at his numbers, they are very pedestrian. Overall, Hart's numbers are better. But Namath was flamboyant, won a Super Bowl, and played in NY. His numbers are also better than Ken Stabler, Bob Greise, Bobby Layne, and are comparable to Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, & Bart Starr. Hart's lack of success in the playoffs shouldn't keep him out of the hall of fame as it wasn't his fault the team never had a competitive defense. He helped put up enough points on offense to win many more games then he won. Some may disagree but yes, he does deserve to be in the hall. Sadly, in today's climate, he will never be considered.
