Perry Hartnett Explained

Perry Hartnett
Number:71, 67, 62, 63
Position:Guard
Birth Date:28 April 1960
Birth Place:Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lb:278
High School:Ball (Galveston)
College:SMU (1978–1981)
Draftyear:1982
Draftround:5
Draftpick:116
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:12
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:5
Pfr:HartPe20

Perry Edmond Hartnett (born April 28, 1960) is an American former football guard. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs and later had stints in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL). He was a member of the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers in the NFL, while being with the Chicago Blitz and Baltimore Stars in the USFL. Hartnett played 12 NFL games, five as a starter, in addition to 16 USFL games in his career.

Early life

Hartnett was born on April 28, 1960, in Galveston, Texas.[1] He attended Ball High School in Galveston; he was the ninth alumni of the school to play in the NFL.[2] He became a starter for the football team at tackle as a sophomore.[3] [4] He reportedly appeared to have little hope of continuing his football career as a junior, weighing only 218lb, but increased in size to 265lb as a senior and began receiving attention.[5] The magazine Dave Campbell's Texas Football named him the top lineman in the state in an article previewing the 1977 season, Hartnett's senior year, and at the end of the season, he was selected Adidas All-American, All-District, and honorable mention All-American by National High School Athletic Coaches.[6] [7] He committed to play college football for the SMU Mustangs.[7]

College career

Hartnett married his wife, Donna, the day before football practice began in his freshman year at Southern Methodist University (SMU).[5] He did not play his first year, 1978, and nearly quit as a sophomore in 1979, but his wife convinced him to stay.[5] He started his first game on the offensive line mid-season that year and saw more starting action as a junior in 1980.[5] As a senior in 1981, he helped them finish with a 10–1 record and No. 6 ranking while being named first-team All-Southwest Conference (SWC).[8]

Professional career

Hartnett was selected in the fifth round (116th overall) of the 1982 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.[9] He signed his rookie contract on June 16.[10] He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions and appeared in all nine games during the strike-shortened 1982 season, posting four starts while playing guard.[11] [12] He lost his starting job in the 1983 training camp and was released. He was then signed again, appeared in two games as a backup, and was released again.[13] [14]

In November 1983, Hartnett signed with the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League (USFL) following his release by the Bears.[14] He played 16 of 18 games for the Blitz in the 1984 season as they went 5–13.[15] He joined the Baltimore Stars for the 1985 season but did not make the team.[16] [17]

Following his USFL stints, Hartnett returned to the NFL by signing with the Buffalo Bills in May 1985.[18] He was waived on July 31 that year.[19] He then joined the Green Bay Packers, but was released on August 19.[20] [21] Hartnett remained out of football afterwards until re-joining the Packers in October 1987, as a replacement player during the National Football League Players Association strike.[22] He played in their loss against the Detroit Lions and was injured in the game; he himself had been a replacement for the injured replacement player John McGarry.[23] He was released at the end of the strike and never played professionally again.[18] Hartnett ended his career with 12 games played, five as a starter, in the NFL, in addition to his 16 USFL games.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Perry Hartnett Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. March 28, 2018. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201238/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20.htm. live.
  2. Web site: Ball (Galveston, TX) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. October 14, 2023. February 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230207121713/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93b848f2. live.
  3. News: Galveston Tors Spin To Top?. The La Marque Times. Newspapers.com. September 4, 1975. 27.
  4. News: No Monsters, Just Hitters In Tor Offensive Line. The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1976. 27. Power, Irvin.
  5. News: Hartnett anchoring able SMU offensive line. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. September 24, 1981. 43, 47. Carley, Jim.
  6. News: Only Game In Town. The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. July 20, 1977. 38. McKenna, David.
  7. News: Hartnett, Weber, Little All-American Selections. The Galveston Daily News. Newspapers.com. March 21, 1978. 11.
  8. News: Mustangs hog AP All-SWC team voting. The Paris News. Newspapers.com. December 1, 1981. 8. Freeman, Denne H..
  9. Web site: 1982 NFL Draft. Pro Football Archives. October 14, 2023. September 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220907001727/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nfldraft.html. live.
  10. News: Briefs. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspapers.com. June 17, 1982. 88.
  11. Web site: Perry Hartnett Career Game Log. Pro-Football-Reference.com. October 14, 2023. October 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231014030603/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20/gamelog/. live.
  12. Web site: 1982 Chicago Bears (NFL). Pro Football Archives. October 14, 2023. April 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401132309/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nflchib.html. live.
  13. Web site: Perry Hartnett Stats. Pro Football Archives. October 14, 2023. April 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220401072936/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/hart04400.html. live.
  14. News: Two ex-Bears join the Blitz move to youth. Chicago Tribune. Newspapers.com. November 23, 1983. 49. Jauss, Bill.
  15. Web site: 1984 Chicago Blitz (USFL). Pro Football Archives. October 14, 2023. April 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422100153/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1984usflchi.html. live.
  16. News: USFL Draft. The Monitor. Newspapers.com. United Press International. December 8, 1984. 22.
  17. News: Transactions. The Charlotte Observer. Newspapers.com. February 10, 1985. 32.
  18. Web site: Perry Hartnett NFL Transactions. Pro Football Archives. October 14, 2023. October 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211018/https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsh/hart04400.html. live.
  19. News: Buffalo waived Hartnett. Austin American-Statesman. Newspapers.com. August 1, 1985. 86.
  20. News: Notebook. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. August 3, 1985. 18.
  21. News: Transactions. The La Crosse Tribune. Newspapers.com. August 20, 1985. 25.
  22. News: Risher eyes permanent Packers job. Green Bay Press-Gazette. Newspapers.com. October 6, 1987. 6. McGinn, Bob.
  23. News: Packers' Killer 'B's lose sting. The Journal Times. Newspapers.com. October 12, 1987. 11.