Ex-NFL player James Hardy III — a 2nd round pick in 2008 — was found dead in an Indiana river, officials confirm. He was 31.
James Hardy III Cause of Death
Hardy’s body was found in a log jam at the Maumee River on Wednesday afternoon — after a City water filtration plant employee spotted him and called police. Our sources tell us it appears Hardy had been in the water for several days. Police are investigating.
Hardy’s family reported him missing on May 30.
Police in Fort Wayne were called to the area around Hosey Dam at 2:30 P.M. local time Wednesday after the worked had seen the body.
Career
He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played college football at Indiana University. In two seasons with the Bills, he caught 10 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2011 but never took a snap for the team. He bumped around the Arena Football League in 2012 and 2013.
Hardy attended Elmhurst High School. As a senior, he posted 34 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a Class 4A all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
Hardy was also a two-time winner of the Tiffany Gooden Award, awarded annually to the most outstanding male or female basketball player in the SAC.
Sadly, Hardy struggled with life after the NFL. He was arrested in 2014 for attacking police officers and was later committed to a mental facility.
