Best of the Packers: Top 10 quarterbacks since 1960
By Phil Watson
10. John Hadl (1974-75)
The Green Bay Packers gave up a king’s ransom to get quarterback John Hadl from the Los Angeles Rams in October 1974. But at the time of the trade the team was 3-3, coming off an ugly loss at Chicago and had scored just 33 points in its last three games.
Jerry Tagge had thrown 10 interceptions and just one touchdown pass in six games leading up to the trade and Hadl was brought in, with the Packers sending first-, second- and third-round picks in 1975 along with first- and second-rounders in 1976 to the Rams.
He took over the starting job in Week 9, after two more losses under backup Jack Concannon, and was not terribly effective. He completed 48.4 percent of his passes for 1,072 yards and three touchdowns, with eight interceptions, although the Packers were 3-3 on his watch.
With a full training camp behind him in 1975, Hadl performed better, completing 54.1 percent of his throws while playing in all 14 games and starting 13, in which Green Bay went 4-9. But he had just six touchdown passes and threw 21 interceptions.
In April 1976, Hadl was part of a package to bring in another quarterback, traded along with cornerback Ken Ellis, a fourth-round pick in 1976 and a third-rounder in 1977 to the Houston Oilers for Lynn Dickey.
In parts of two seasons with the Packers, Hadl completed 52.1 percent of his passes for 3,167 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing 29 interceptions for a passer rating of 53.2.
Hadl was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 10th overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, but opted to sign with the American Football League’s San Diego Chargers, who took him in the third round of their draft out of Kansas.
Hadl was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers, leading the AFL in passing yards in 1965 and 1968 and in touchdown passes in 1968. In 1971, after the AFL-NFL merger, Hadl led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in 1971 and in interceptions in 1972.
He was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1971.
In January 1973, Hadl was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive end Coy Bacon and running back Bob Thomas.
Hadl was an All-Pro for the Rams in 1973 and was named to his sixth Pro Bowl.
With Houston, Hadl was a backup for two seasons, retiring after the 1977 season. His 244 career touchdown passes are 20th in NFL history and his 268 career interceptions rank third.
He coached the USFL’s Los Angeles Express in 1984 and 1985, with a record of 13-23 and a 1-1 playoff mark.
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