The Most REMARKABLE Story of John Hadl's CAREER | 1971 Chargers

In the 1971 NFL offseason, San Diego Chargers quarterback John Hadl nearly died while going horseback riding; if it wasn't for the quick thinking of a teammate saving him from near-certain death, he would've been dead. Somehow, Hadl came back later that year and not only played at a high level, but led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. This is the story behind the unbelievable, forgotten comeback of John Hadl
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#nfl #chargers #nflthrowback #football
John Hadl played for the following Chargers teams:
1962 Chargers
1963 Chargers
1964 Chargers
1965 Chargers
1966 Chargers
1967 Chargers
1968 Chargers
1969 Chargers
1970 Chargers
1971 Chargers
1972 Chargers
Members of the 1971 Chargers:
Marty Domres
Mike Garrett
John Hadl
Mike Montgomery
Bob Howard
Jerry LeVias
Gary Garrison
Chuck Dicus
Dennis Partee
Bryant Salter
Billy Parks
Chuck Detweiler
Eddie Ray
Leon Burns
Jim Hill
Joe Beauchamp
Jim Tolbert
Chris Fletcher
Jeff Queen
Ray White
Mel Rogers
Carl Mauck
Bob Bruggers
Jack Porter
Harris Jones
Pete Barnes
Bob Babich
Doug Wilkerson
Sam Gruneisen
Rick Redman
Ira Gordon
Russ Washington
Lee Thomas
Gary Nowak
Terry Owens
Ron East
Walt Sweeney
Andy Rice
Kevin Hardy
Jeff Staggs
Steve DeLong
Walker Gillette
John Tanner
Wes Grant
Tom Williams
Pettis Norman
Art Strozier
Sid Gillman (coach)

[@vena.2621]

As one of the five Chargers fans left, thank you for another great video!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Even though I was born near Dallas and grew up in Denver, I loved the Chargers and Hadl and Alworth. He always had my respect.

[@OriginalOne1960]

Al Davis copied the Los Angeles Chargers 1960 original shield logo. Al Davis was part of the Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff 1960 birth season through 1962. Al Davis then left the Chargers coaching staff in 1962 to become the manager of the Oakland Raiders in 1963. Al Davis obviously copied the the 1960 L.A.Chargers original shield logo and added it to the Oakland Raiders pirate logo in 1963 because coincidentally the original 1960-1962 Oakland born Raiders pirate team logo didn’t have the shield logo in their original birth year of 1960-1962 until Al Davis joined the Oakland Raiders in 1963 then added the shield logo to the pirate logo. Raiders copy cat shield logo but the true Original L.A.born Shield logo is the Original Los Angeles Chargers battle horse shield logo. Da Da Da Da Charge!!! ⚡️🐴 🏈 Let’s Go Los Angeles Chargers! The true original 1960 L.A. born team now back playing in the original birth city L.A. And the true original Southern California NFL team Rams born in Cleveland Ohio played in Cleveland Ohio 10 years and played ST.Louis Missouri 23 years and Raiders born in Oakland played in Oakland 43 years and now play in Nevada. Da Da Da Da Charge!!! ⚡️🐴 🏈

[@bamafan62]

Man I love your videos on these older players! Hero’s I grew up with!!! Thank you!!

[@67marlins81]

My heroes too, 'bama.

[@denisceballos9745]

Chargers seen catching TDs from Hadl (21) in this clip; Lance Alworth HOF (19), Gary Garrison (27), TE Willie Frazier (83), WR Billy Parks (32), Walker Gillette (84), TE Pettis Norman (88), FB Jeff Queen (47), Jerry LeVias (25), and Chuck Dicus (28).

[@salsorrentino100]

Nice tribute to John Hadl. Sad to hear of his passing today.

[@marcus813]

That's nothing short of miraculous. Hadl must have been a quick healer!

[@kentfreeman8674]

Even though no talk of spiking ball into the ground on ever single play

[@stevendalbor9495]

Yes. I had the bourbon bottle and the shot glass nearby, but no joy. Ah well. Still a great video...

[@Staceyatkinson4496]

Thats better than when you spike the ball on every single play, certainly better than 39.9 passing rating

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Actually, I really liked the Chargers because of Hadl and Alworth. Maybe it was the fact they rarely spiked the ball on every play. That shows class, not just wanting to pad your statistics.

[@davidtaylor-it9pw]

The catch phrase of this channel...

[@Staceyatkinson4496]

@@davidtaylor-it9pw very true, it's a brilliant one too

[@DeInevitable]

I've grown to expect this line like clockwork. it would almost be a sin not to include it

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@DeInevitable He, was, almost killed, he chose pity above tradition, nice.

[@chadwickwhite6107]

Well...this VIDEO is CERTAINLY BETTER than SPIKING the BALL into the ground on EVERY single OFFENSIVE play!!!!

[@thomasanderson6124]

The chargers were awesome in the sixties and early seventies. Wide open progressive offense, sid Gilman’s innovative coaching, and a great passing game. More charger videos please.

[@tommyguntunechi8124]

Just heard the news today and came to Pay my respects to an absolute legend. Dude was Josh Allen 60 years ago. Crazy.

[@chaz33xxx]

You put a lot of work into this Hadle doc

[@jchapman4842]

I was at that final game of the 1971 season vs Denver. I was there with my Pop Warner teammates. We sat in the endzone seats. Hadl was on fire.

[@levikatriel]

One year later, one of the Chargers’ coaches left the chargers mid season to coach the patriots. Then he returned to the chargers. And then resigned. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about the coach.

[@flyinelvis69]

And in 1971 he did it without Lance Alworth. Imagine if Bambi had been there that year. But he won a Super Bowl instead

[@astrostar49]

Hey thanks for doing another video on John Hadl. I'm not a Chargers fan, and I'm not sure why, but he's one of the select few quarterbacks that I seem to have an affinity for after looking at his career. Wish I could have seen him play week to week. Also, he looks really cool wearing #21 for a QB. I'm really surprised that number wasn't already retired by the Chargers by the time Ladainian Tomlinson was drafted. And I think he should be in Canton. Perhaps the right people will see this video, and it will reignite chatter for his chances.

[@nasetvideos]

Love these types of videos about individuals who can overcome adversity and become a true success story. Awesome video

[@Chiefsfansince-qb1kt]

As a lifetime Kansas City Chiefs fan I can honestly state that John Hadl was one of my favorite AFL quarterbacks to come into Kansas City's Municipal Stadium and play against the Chiefs. Hadl was competitive, cagey, clever, dynamic at times and always kept the Chargers in the game. As most Chiefs fans, we had an abundance of respect for John Hadl and some of us wished he would have joined the Chiefs to run their offense, had Lenny Dawson not been around. Hadl belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with Daryle Lamonica and receivers Otis Taylor, Warren Wells, and many other GREAT AFL players who were overlooked, or snubbed by the partisan NFL writers who vote for these types of inductions. Those who vote have kept many MANY great AFL players OUT of the Pro Football Hall because of their pro-NFL/ANTI-AFL bias. All of the players I've written about here belong! It's HIGH-TIME they were inducted!!! Long Live the AFL!!!

[@nomadbrad6391]

I LOVE your pre-1990 NFL videos.....before becoming corporate.

[@CTubeMan]

Another great video about a player overcoming adversity.

[@tommclain8893]

The footage of your games along with your unknown tidbits of info keeps me coming back for more.

[@georgetesten102]

Hadl is a legend!!

[@christopherengel7436]

I just assumed Hadl was on the Hall. Great video thanks

[@dakotalovett2450]

My friend (Roy Carls; now a Maryland doctor) and I were in my seats at a 1984 Chargers game against the Oilers and sitting in front of us was John Hadl! What a nice guy; he was amazed at my Charger knowledge and claimed the reason he had success was because he had Lance Alworth to throw to! Now we know better! Thanks for the videos!!😀🎶🏈

[@shel6887]

Surprised he is not in the HOF!!!!

[@matthewdaley746]

QBs, are, usually, penalized, for, not, playing, in, the, SB, Dan, Fouts, only, bucked, that, trend, because, his, numbers, were, so, absolutely, off, of, the, charts.

[@douglasnicholas1860]

Lance Alworth/Bambi they were a team.. along with Gary Garrison. What a Show!

[@rickluque6429]

Oh my gosh. That is some kind of a football and one heck of a human being Thanks for sharing your video.🏈🏈

[@harpercole5321]

We've been blessed at the quarterback position over the years.

[@matthewdaley746]

That doesn't guarantee, success, Favre/Rodgers, 2-1, Manning/Luck, 1-1, those teams, massively, underachieved, with, their, QBs, it, really, is a lottery.

[@harpercole5321]

@@matthewdaley746 That's true .. Humphries, our only Super Bowl quarterback, wasn't as technically gifted but was a strong leader.

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@harpercole5321 These, 49ers, were, unbeatable.

[@eugenedenbrook322]

Chargers have been. They have a new, potential great QB; DON'T WASTE THIS ONE, PLEASE! 🙂

[@matthewdaley746]

@@eugenedenbrook322 Expect, that's a fact.

[@MalEvansUSA]

Great research. Phenomenal stories. Steve sabol is smiling

[@jamesgorski7551]

Wow! Why he isn't in the hof is beyond me.

[@kentfreeman8674]

Great storytime

[@67marlins]

Hadl & Pastorini played 2nd & 1st string for the Houston Oilers in '77 at least. Both men were incredibly tough.

[@trekfortruth2841]

Very good episode! I saw him play in the early 70's...he was the Dan Fouts of his day. Should be in the HOF.

[@matthewdaley746]

Dan, Fouts, is, (probably), the, only, QB, that, will, ever, be, enshrined, in, the, HOF, that, didn't, ever, play, in, the, SB.

[@trekfortruth2841]

@@matthewdaley746 Maybe...but there are lots of pre super bowl and post super era HOF'ers that never played in a championship game.

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@trekfortruth2841 None, are, enshrined, yet.

[@trekfortruth2841]

@@matthewdaley746 QB'S or players of other positions?

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@trekfortruth2841 QBs, like, goaltenders in hockey, it's tough to be enshrined, without, Championships, and, virtually, impossible, without, ever, reaching the, Final.

[@rickluque6429]

Nice video and fantastic footage Great shots of good ol #21. Nice to see footage like this again. Thanks again for sharing 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

[@Youngpinevr]

Hadl throwing too Bambi 19 and Gary Garrison 27 who was #83. Alworth burned Willie brown Ken Riley Lamar Parrish some great ones god bless Delong

[@joeylawn36111]

The horse-riding accident was so bad that before the accident, his last name was spelled Hadel - the 'e' was damaged beyond repair....

[@67marlins81]

How about a hero's award for Steve DeLong...?

[@tombarbeausr7022]

Thanks for the great content on your channel. Cheers, TB

[@csongorszendrey2180]

The Hadl trade to GB is one worth examining.

[@Jason_Maier]

He has the unusual record for most ties by a starting QB with 9. And that would be an awesome 'Dumb Decisions' video: Packers trading many draft picks (one of which turned out to be HOF lineman Jackie Slater) to the Rams in 1974 for Hadl.

[@mrfreind752]

John hadl, the greatest #21 on the chargers not named ladainian tomlinson

[@davanmani556]

Same thing happened to Maureen Connolly the tennis player in San Diego. Hers was a leg injury.

[@scottconner7930]

50 Years Ago

[@markbrian7179]

And two years later, the Chargers traded John to the Rams so that a older John could start for them at quarterback.

[@stevemccurdy9201]

Hadl being traded to the Packers is considered the worst trade in Packers' history. He was terrible.

[@matthewdaley746]

​​@stevemccurdy9201 Trading Ted Hendricks to the Raiders is, another, one, though, he, ultimately, proved to be, "The, Missing, Piece," in Oakland.

[@matthewdaley746]

@Matt Joseph Yeah, he, not, The, Two, Jacks, (Ham, Lambert), was, the, greatest, LB, of his era, there's no doubt about it.

[@karlcooper8460]

When it comes to the chargers defense to this day only one that comes to mind is Fred Dean.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Do a video on Ryan Leaf’s injury for the 1999 season

[@oldmanballer5088]

If Hadl had won more he would probably be a shoe in for HOF. Even though in my humble opinion when he put up those career numbers at the time he should be in anyway!

[@nujeru99]

This is such a GREAT vid! Hadl was one of the best QBs ever, and it’s such a shame that he gets overlooked/forgotten by fans today. He was the first great Chargers QB and is DECADES overdue for the HOF

[@davidcobb2693]

Hadl belongs in the HOVG, Hall Of Very Good, maybe Roman Gabriel and John Brodie can join him there, his 67.4 career passer rating is unimpressive as is his one First Team All-Pro selection during his seemingly 150 year playing career! He was named to 6 Pro Bowls when 2 or 3 different QB's made each conference's or league's Pro Bowl team each year. In the 1963 AFL Championship game after Chargers starter Tobin Rote left the game he threw a 4th quarter TD pass with the Chargers leading 38-10 that gave them a 44-10 lead and he finished off the san Diego blowout victory with a 1 yard TD run that made the final score San Diego 51, Boston 10, the Chargers had a 4 touchdown lead when he came into the game. His career 0-2 record as a starting QB in the postseason speaks for itself, his teams only made 2 playoff appearances with him at starting QB!

[@robertd.7060]

@@davidcobb2693 The AFL / NFL was NOT what it is today ? They threw the ball way down the field back then ? AND when YOUR a TOP 3 in your sports PO"S , with HOFERS in front & behind you ? I have a [ BIG ] problem with that idea ! John Brodie & Jim Hart should be in , also & if you WANT to talk about Passer RATINGS , with 4 AFC titles , a MVP , WHY is Kenny Anderson still waiting on the call ? There ARE a FEW more AFL players getting the shaft for the HOF to me ? Ray Guy should have NOT been the 1st & only punter still in the fame . Jerrell Wilson of the Chiefs OR the AFL ALL - DECADE Punter should have been .

[@morghenmurdochlundgren8640]

The horse was trying to improve his QuarterHorse rating by doing nothing but spiking the Hadl on every down. No disrespect JH,just having fun.

[@coreylevine8095]

So it were a Bronco

[@coreylevine8095]

And it not funny

[@gregoryforte8876]

John Hadl should have been enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame many years ago.

[@doovie101]

Do a video about his Packers stint.

[@quincyjones6382]

Hadl was talented!

[@davidbrill1237]

Looked who he had to throw to !!! Two of the very best of all time !!! Lance "Bambi" Alworth (19) and Gary "the ghost" Garrison (27)

[@OriginalOne1960]

In 1960 the Los Angeles Chargers win 52-28 vs The Oakland Raiders at the L.A.Coliseum. Then again in 1960 the L.A.Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick stadium in San Francisco. Los Angeles Chargers 41 Oakland Raiders 17 Let’s Go Los Angeles battle Chargers The true original L.A. born team now back playing in the original birthplace L.A. Da Da Dah Dah Da Charge!!!!!⚡️🐴 🏈

[@dannys3476]

Another forgotten player and someone who should be in Canton. Shameful he isn't.

[@67marlins81]

John Hadl played in Houston for just a few years in the early 70s, competing with another incredibly tough QB, Dan Pastorini. They made tough QBs in the 1970s.

[@OldHickoryAndyJackson]

Lamonica was the mad bomber, Hadl was #2

[@robertd.7060]

What's so BAD , is , John HadL isn't even in the Chargers HOF , I believe ? The NO # 21 is , BUT , for L.T , only .

[@ernestmitchell4452]

This reminds me of a similar story involving a swimmer who nearly died and was temprarly maimed in 1992 in a bus accident on the Indiana Toll Road for which teh following year she had the best swimming competition she had up to that point.

[@Xix1326]

Hadl, Fouts, Rivers and now (maybe) Herbert... that's a major group of QBs there. And yet, they've been in as many SBs as the Jets, and didn't win it. What is up with the Chargers?

[@gswdeclan]

Who's bringing back the single face bar helmet? I'll even take a kicker or punter that was a great look.

[@stevenbauer4799]

3075 passing tds. 21 tds. In a 14 game season. Top qb's today like rodgers, mahomes hit those marks by game 9. And to think tarkenton took the passing marks from unitas until marino shredded them hitting the 5000 yd. mark that is the standard today. Plus 49 tds that only brady, mahomes, and peyton have passed with 50 and 55. Now 500 + tds and 70,000 + passing yds. are the mark. Tarkenton's passing yardage now ranks 13th all-time. Hadl's yardage ranks 37th all-time, just behind andy dalton. Tarkenton's all time td passes ranks no. 11 now. Hadl's td passes ranks 26 all-time. And sid gilman is one of the fathers of the modern passing game. Air coryell who coached bolts and Gilman asst. was a student of the gilman passing game. Dick Vermiel worked under Gilman. Al saunders (with bolts/rams) who was an asst. with coryell/vermiel and mike martz too who both put the ram greatest show on turf offense as well under vermiel.

[@matthewdaley746]

Yeah, but, Dan Fouts, and, the Rams, proved that lacking defense means you'll, win, no, Championships, (or, only, one), no, matter your offensive firepower.

[@stevenbauer4799]

@@matthewdaley746 Greatest show rams won sb xxxiv based on offense firepower despite not having a top notch d. The sb xxxvi greatest show rams did have a top notch d. Just got cheated out of that s b win thanks to pats videotaping their walk thru prior to the sb.

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@stevenbauer4799 With, an assist from Mike Martz, not, wanting to use Marshall Faulk, yet, they still, lost, twice, to, inferior, Giants teams, and, a, weaker, Eagles team.

[@stevenbauer4799]

@@matthewdaley746 yep. Despite the martz brain cramp move bb pats should have four s b losses in 2000's. Faulk was the one they had to key on. That might have made martz decision not to feature faulk easy. belicheck is known for taking opposing offenses strengths away. Was it right? Looking back now no it wasn't. And pats knew their game plan. Rams players said they were shocked at how well pats knew their plays since they ran their plays out of different or new formations they put in just that week leading up to the sb.

[@matthewdaley746]

​@@stevenbauer4799 The Eagles wisely anticipated this, and, tested, The, Philly Special, in a hotel ballroom, the Patriots, were, only, undone by Bill Belichick's crazy stubbornness.

[@michaelhodilofficial]

I do wonder if Hadl is a distant cousin is mine lol

[@OriginalOne1960]

The Chargers name and logo was created and originated in Los Angeles it’s a Horse charging into battle with a USC L.A.Memorial Coliseum historical connection and Tommy Walker aka”Tommy Trojan”and then owner Barron Hilton. The Chargers name originated from the USC football games and Tommy Walker aka (Tommy Trojan) famous historical Charge chant he created “Da Dah Dah Da“ Charge! “Da Dah Dah Da Trojans Warriors Charge! Tommy Walker then musician /team kicker helped inspire then owner Barron Hilton “R.I.P.” to name the Chargers football team from the famous Charge chant he created as a USC musician band member /team kicker. When Barron Hilton attended the USC football games the previous years as a football fan at the L.A.Coliseum he would hear the Tommy Walker Charge chant. When Tommy Walker would run out to the football field to attempt the extra point kicks as the team kicker the USC team music band would play Tommy’s Charge chant he created as the team musician and the football fans that attended the games would yell out his Charge chant “Da Dah Dah Dah Da” Charge! “Da Dah Dah Da “Trojan Warriors Charge! to motivate him to score the extra point kicks. So that’s where Barron Hilton got inspired and got the idea to name the Los Angeles Chargers football team. The proof is in the Chargers 1960 original shield logo with the horse charging into battle. The Charger is a horse charging into battle. very similar to the USC Trojan Warrior with shield and sword and horse mascot charging on to the field to battle. Hence the horse in the Chargers 1960 original shield logo. The lightning bolt idea came from Barron Hilton liking the Air Force College football team lightning bolt logo as a College football fan. Till this day that famous Charge chant is heard at the game’s and through out many other sporting game events. The Los Angeles Chargers r the true original L.A. born team now back playing in the original birthplace and not too many team’s can claim that fact. Rams were born in Cleveland 1936 and Raiders were born in Oakland 1960 And that’s a fact these other teams can’t ever claim. And also the Chargers r the true Southern California NFL team because they have never left Southern California unlike the Cleveland/ST.Louis Rams and the Oakland/Las Vegas Nevada Raiders. Let’s Go Los Angeles Chargers The true original L.A. born team now back playing in the original birthplace L.A. Da Da Dah Dah Da Charge!!! ⚡️🐴 🏈 Born in L.A. in 1960 and played their first season ever in Chargers history at the L.A.memorial Coliseum finishing the season with a 10-4 record. Da Da Dah Dah Da Charge!!!!!⚡️🐴 🏈

[@jaysonscott6926]

How could the chargers of had so many ties ? 3 ties 2 out of 3 years 7 ties in 3 years?

[@RodericSpode]

Hadl threw for a ton of yards and TD's but he also threw a boatload of Interceptions, as was the style at the time. In spite of the ints he still matches up favorably compared to most of his peers, and he's definitely the best QB to wear the number 21.

[@OriginalOne1960]

Al Davis copied the Los Angeles Chargers 1960 original shield logo. Al Davis was part of the Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff 1960 birth season through 1962. Al Davis then left the Chargers coaching staff in 1962 to become the manager of the Oakland Raiders in 1963. Al Davis obviously copied the the 1960 L.A.Chargers original shield logo and added it to the Oakland Raiders pirate logo in 1963 because coincidentally the original 1960-1962 Oakland born Raiders pirate team logo didn’t have the shield logo in their original birth year of 1960-1962 until Al Davis joined the Oakland Raiders in 1963 then added the shield logo to the pirate logo. Raiders copy cat shield logo but the true Original L.A.born Shield logo is the Original Los Angeles Chargers battle horse shield logo. Da Da Da Da Charge!!! ⚡️🐴 🏈 Let’s Go Los Angeles Chargers! The true original 1960 L.A. born team now back playing in the original birth city L.A. And the true original Southern California NFL team Rams born in Cleveland Ohio played in Cleveland Ohio 10 years and played ST.Louis Missouri 23 years and Raiders born in Oakland played in Oakland 43 years and now play in Nevada. Da Da Da Da Charge!!! ⚡️🐴 🏈

[@karlcooper8460]

Joe Montana had a similar experience when he underwent serious potentially career ending back surgery in 1986 to win MVP in 1987 now that was almost as remarkable.

[@bubbafug00gle51]

He actually wasn't that great in 71, just a high volume year. He led the league with 25 INTs compared to just 21TDs. Yes, the rules were different, but even for the time... that ratio was mediocre. In 73 he was much better. He had 22 TDs and only 11 picks, and his YPA was over 20% above average. Another great video though.

[@davanmani556]

Maybe he didn’t want punt. LOL