The Arizona Cardinals Football Club have announced that the team will induct quarterback JIM HART into its Ring of Honor.
Hart will be honored at halftime of a 2017 home game that will be determined at a later date.
“The Ring of Honor is reserved for those who have made the most extraordinary contributions to the Cardinals organization and Jim Hart is absolutely in that category,” said Cardinals President MICHAEL BIDWILL. “When you look back at his career, two things really jump out: excellence and longevity. He is our franchise’s career leader in nearly every passing category which is commendable in its own right. But an undrafted quarterback going on to play 18 seasons and 199 games may be even more remarkable and unlikely to ever be duplicated. The impact he had on the Cardinals was undeniable and we are thrilled that he will have this permanent place of honor within our franchise.”
Hart signed with the Cardinals in 1966 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Southern Illinois and went on to play 18 season of his 19 NFL seasons with the team (1966-83). He played more seasons with the Cardinals (18) than any other player in franchise history and only five players in NFL history have spent more seasons with one club: Jason Hanson (Lions, 21 seasons), Jackie Slater (Rams, 20 seasons), Darrell Green (Redskins, 20 seasons), Jim Marshall (Vikings, 19 seasons) and Bruce Matthews (Oilers/Titans, 19 seasons).
In Cardinals history only kicker Jim Bakken (234) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (202) have appeared in more games with the team than Hart (199).
The NFC Player of the Year in 1974, Hart owns the Cardinals record for career wins by a quarterback (87) and established franchise career records in pass attempts (5,069), completions (2,590), passing yards (34,639) and touchdown passes (209). He was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1974-77), the most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback in team history.
