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United States Justin Hardee Sr. is an accomplished NFL cornerback and special teamer, known for his impactful plays and consistent performance across multiple teams.
Justin Hardee Sr. became a franchisee of Papa John's, with his first franchise scheduled to open in New Orleans. This venture showcases his move into entrepreneurship beyond his NFL career.
The NFLPA made a $10,000 contribution to Justin Hardee Sr.'s foundation or charity of choice in honor of him being named a Community MVP, recognizing his commitment to community service.
Justin Hardee Sr. was born on February 7, 1994, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Illinois, where he played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini as a wide receiver from 2012 to 2016. During his college career, he accumulated 841 receiving yards and one touchdown. After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Hardee began his professional career as an undrafted free agent, first signing with the Houston Texans in May 2017 before joining the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad in September of the same year. He quickly made an impression, being promoted to the active roster and showcasing his versatility and special teams prowess.
Hardee’s career with the New Orleans Saints saw significant milestones. In 2017, he blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning him the National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honor. The following year, he recorded his first NFL career reception and interception, a 77-yard return against the Washington Redskins. His consistent performance led to him playing in all regular-season games and post-season games for the Saints in 2018 and 2019, contributing significantly on defense and special teams. He signed a three-year contract with the New York Jets in 2021, where he continued to excel in special teams.
In 2022, Hardee was recognized for his outstanding contributions by being named to his first Pro Bowl and NFLPA All-Pro team for special teams, highlighting his status as one of the league’s top special teams players. After his tenure with the Jets, he signed with the Cleveland Browns in April 2024, followed by brief stints with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans, ultimately re-signing with the Titans in April 2025. Beyond his athletic achievements, Hardee has also ventured into entrepreneurship, becoming a Papa John’s franchisee. He is known for his commitment to education, having earned three degrees during his NFL career, and is dedicated to community involvement, as evidenced by the NFLPA’s $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice in honor of his Community MVP award.
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