Justin Hardee

PRO: The Titans signed Justin Hardee Sr. during the 2024 season to bring experience and savvy to their special teams units. The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound defensive back entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2017 before spending his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2017-20. He spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets where he was named a special teams captain each year with the team (2021-23) and was selected to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer in 2022. Entering 2024, the University of Illinois product played in 100 NFL games and collected 63 special teams tackles, the sixth-most among active players since 2017. Hardee most recently spent the 2024 offseason and training camp with the Cleveland Browns.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Hardee played wide receiver in college at Illinois and entered the NFL as an undrafted wide receiver with the Texans in 2017. He switched to cornerback when he signed with the Saints later that season.
• Hardee created the Hardee Cares Foundation, which facilitates programs for youth in New Orleans and his native Cleveland, as well as supporting sarcoidosis awareness to honor his mother, Estella, who passed awary from the disease in 2013.
• Hardee owns a Papa John's franchise in Waveland, Miss. In 2017, he joined then teammates Marshon Lattimore and Ted Ginn Jr. at a charity event catered by Papa John's and reached out to formers Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins, who was also a Papa John's franchise owner. Hardee's initial location opened in New Orleans in 2020 before relocating to Waveland.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Cleveland, Ohio, native was originally signed by the Houston Texans as a rookie free agent on May 13, 2017.
• Waived by the Texans on Sept. 2, 2017.
• Signed by the New Orleans Saints to their practice squad on Sept. 7, 2017.
• Signed by the Saints to their active roster from the practice squad on Sept. 23, 2017.
• Signed by the New York Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 18, 2021.
• Signed by the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent on April 2, 2024.
• Released by the Browns on Aug. 27, 2024 and signed to the Browns' practice squad a day later.
• Released from the Browns practice squad on Sept. 10, 2024.
• Signed by the Carolina Panthers to their practice squad on Sept. 24, 2024.
• Released from the Panthers' practice squad on Oct. 4, 2024.
• Signed by the Titans to their practice squad on Oct. 29, 2024.

COLLEGE:
• During four seasons at Illinois, Hardee registerd 72 receptions for 841 yards and one score. Was named Academic All-Big Ten as a redshirt senior (2016). Redshirted his senior season in 2015 due to injury.
• As a redshirt senior (2016), started all 12 games at wide receiver and finished second on the team with 314 receiving yards and third on the squad with 25 receptions.
• As a senior (2015), redshirted.
• As a junior (2014), saw action in all 13 games with eight starts and tallied 19 catches for 240 yards.
• As a sophomore (2013), appeared in 12 games with one start and recorded 11 receptions for 95 yards. Also notched three special teams tackles.
• As a freshman (2012), saw action in all 12 games with one start and caught 17 balls for 192 yards. Added a special teams tackle.
• Graduated with a degree in communications from Illinois. Also earned master's degrees in sports management and education.

PERSONAL:
• Attended Glenville (Ohio) High School and played for Coach Ted Ginn Sr. Was tabbed a two-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com.
• Also competed in track and field and was a state champion in 2011 in the 4x400 meter relay.
• Follow Hardee Sr. on X and on Instagram at @jhardee_19.
• Son of Arthur Hardee and the late Estella Perryman.
• Has one son, Justin Jr.
• Born Justin Hardee on Feb. 7, 1994 in Cleveland, Ohio.