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155. Hardy Nickerson

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Anyone who plays 225 Games defensively in the National Football League is without question a double-tough competitor, and that is what we have in the run-stuffing Linebacker, Hardy Nickerson.

Nickerson was named to five Pro Bowls, all as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his second team after spending six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  With Tampa, he was also named a First Team and Second Team All-Pro twice and led the league in Tackles in 1993.  Nickerson would retire with over 1,500 Combined Tackles and would also be named a 1990’s Second Team All-Decade Selection.

IMG 0929

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Compton, California, U.S.A.
  • Eligible Since: Tuesday, 01 January 2008
  • Position: Linebacker
  • Games Played: 225
  • Notable Statistics: 200 Games Started
    12 Interceptions
    71 Interception Return Yards
    24 Passes Defended***
    23 Forced Fumbles*
    14 Fumble Recoveries
    44 Fumble Recovery Yards
    21.0 Quarterback Sacks
    1,586 Combined Tackles
    632 Solo Tackles**
    314 Assisted Tackles**
    16 Tackles for Loss***
    131 Approximate Value

    8 Playoff Games
    8 Playoff Games Started
    1 Interception
    6 Interception Return Yards
    2 Passes Defended***
    1 Forced Fumble*
    36 Combined Tackles
    26 Solo Tackles
    10 Assisted Tackles
    1 Tackle for Loss***

    *Forced Fumbles were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1978 to 1998
    **Solo Tackles and Assisted Tackles were not statistics until the 1994 Season
    ***Tackles for Loss and Passes Defended were not statistics until the 1999 Season.
  • Played For: Green Bay Packers , Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • College: California
  • Drafted: 1st Round, 7th Overall in 1994
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (None)
    NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
    First Team All-Pro Selection (2) (1993 & 1997)
    Second Team All-Pro Selection (2) (1996 & 1999)
    Pro Bowl Selection (5) (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 & 1999)
    NFLPA Alan Page Community Award (1997)
    Most Combined Tackles (1) (1993)

  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten Defensive Player of the Year Finishes:
    6th in 1993

    Top Ten Finishes: Approximate Value (1) (1997)
    Top Ten Finishes: Fumble Return Yards (1) (1992)
    Top Ten Finishes: Solo Tackles (1) (1997)
    Top Ten Finishes: Combined Tackles (3) (1993, 1995 & 1997)
    Top Ten Finishes: Forced Fumbles (1) (1996)

  • Notable All Time Rankings: 10. Combined Tackles: 1,586
    63. Forced Fumbles: 23
    98. Solo Tackles: 632 
  • Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: None

Should Hardy Nickerson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 80%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 20%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%
Last modified on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 01:52

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