Legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3-Sport Athlete Tragically Passes Away

According to a press release from the university, legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, basketball and baseball player Kevin Hardy passed away in Northern California on Monday.

Hardy, who was born in 1945, was elite in more than one of the sports he played. While multi-sport athletes aren’t as common in the modern era, wide receiver and lacrosse player Jordan Faison continues the legacy of multi-sport athletes at Notre Dame.

Kevin Hardy was elite on the football field for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Kevin Hardy’s best sport as an athlete for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was football as it was the sport in which he ended up going pro.

At Notre Dame Hardy was a defensive tackle who helped the Fighting Irish to a national title in 1966. He was a two-time All-American. In the year of the national championship victory, Hardy had 79 tackles and four pass breakups.

The 1966 defense that Hardy played a huge role in is one of the best defenses in college football. They gave up 24 points in the entire season. 10 of those points were to the Michigan State Spartans and they gave up seven points to the Purdue Boilermakers and the Northwestern Wildcats.

After a move to defensive end, Hardy became a first-round draft pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. Hardy was selected at the No. 7 overall spot by the New Orleans Saints but was moved to the San Francisco 49ers.

Throughout his career, Hardy also played for the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers.

Kevin Hardy was also an elite baseball player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

On top of being one of the top football prospects in the nation, Kevin Hardy was an elite baseball player. Hardy was the main right fielder for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during his time at the university.

He was more than just a member of the baseball team when he played. Hardy actually led Notre Dame baseball with a .398 batting average in 1967.

While Hardy wasn’t as elite as he was in baseball and football, he played an integral role on the basketball team as well. He was a role player for a Fighting Irish squad that made it to the NCAA tournament.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mourn the loss of Kevin Hardy

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish took to social media to mourn the loss of one of the most legendary players to ever come through their university.

The Fighting Irish didn’t only commend him for his accomplishments on the field and on the court, but they also commended him for what he did for the community.

We mourn the loss of multi-sport alumnus Kevin Hardy and honor the impact he had on Notre Dame and the community as a whole.

We lift our prayers for Kevin’s family and all those who loved him.

🔗 https://t.co/COsT7BWTTi pic.twitter.com/LjDPcnEZdj

— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) May 8, 2024

The official Fighting Irish website explains who Hardy is survived by:

Hardy is survived by his son, Danny (daughter-in-law Julie Hardy), daughter Shannon Kuhl (son-in-law Chris Kuhl and grandson Kevin) and sisters Mary and Barbara.

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