Tag: Justin Hardee

New Browns CB Justin Hardee has a message after returning to his hometown

The hometown kid is happy to be back.

The Cleveland Browns signed a Glenville High School graduate, cornerback, and special teams ace Justin Hardee today.

And he is pumped to be back in his hometown.

After graduating from Glenville High School, Hardee departed the Buckeye State to play his collegiate football at the University of Illinois. He was then signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017 by the Houston Texans before landing with the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets after that.

Now in year eight, Hardee finally gets to return to the place he calls home. The Pro Bowl special teamer took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his excitement about being back in The Land:

“Cleveland!!! Let’s go I’m back home! Year 8 blessed. I had no clue but God always knew!!!”

The Browns fielded one of the best special teams units in the league last year, and they look like they want to continue that trend. While they lost one ace in Mike Ford Jr. this offseason, they bring in Hardee along with Tony Brown to keep that third phase of the game locked down.

Welcome home, Justin!

Special teams ace Justin Hardee to sign with Browns

Justin Hardee joining the Browns

The Jets are losing a key piece of their special teams group in a season in which the kickoff rules are changing to the old XFL ways.

Justin Hardee, who became the leader of the unit over the last three seasons, is joining the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Browns officially announced the signing shortly afterwards.

Hardee was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2022. He spent three seasons with the Jets after four seasons in New Orleans. He now essentially gets to go home. Hardee was born in Cleveland and went o high school in Glenville before playing his college ball at Illinois.

With Hardee gone, Irv Charles should continue to see his role in special teams grow. He became a reliable gunner for the Jets last season and was another special teams gem uncovered by special teams coordinator Brant Boyer.

Browns sign CB/special teams ace and Cleveland native Justin Hardee

The Browns have added another core special teamer, signing Justin Hardee in 2024 NFL free agency

While 2024 NFL free agency has slowed down, it treks on as the Cleveland Browns have added another cornerback and core special teamer in Justin Hardee.

A Cleveland native and Glenville High School alum, Hardee now returns to his hometown after stops with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets over his seven-year NFL career. Hardee was a captain for the Jets a year ago as a core special teamer, a role that also earned him a Pro Bowl nod in 2022.

This is the second core special teamer the Browns have added in free agency, also signing Tony Brown away from the Indianapolis Colts.

Hardee can be seen telling quarterback Joe Flacco to “win a chip for my city” after the Browns defeated the Jets a year ago to clinch a spot in the playoffs. He now gets the opportunity to be a part of a championship run with his hometown team.

12 free agents Giants could target based on coaching hires

These 12 free agents could become free agent targets of the New York Giants based on their offseason coaching and coordinator hires.

The New York Giants significantly overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, changing two of their three coordinators while also switching out a multitude of assistant coaches.

Because of those changes, the team will need to readjust their personnel by way of free agency and the 2024 NFL draft in an effort to match talent with the new schemes.

As a reminder, here are the notable coaching changes:

  • Defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen
  • Special teams coordinator, Michael Ghobrial
  • Running backs coach, Joel Thomas
  • Offensive line coach, Carmen Bricillo
  • Tight ends coach, Tim Kelly

These new arrivals create an interesting dynamic headed into free agency. They are intimately familiar with several of the available players and have developed trust with them over the years.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean any or all of them will be signed by the Giants, there is likely to be some crossover.

Here is a look at 12 impending free agents the Giants could target based on the above coaching changes/hires.

Jets’ team award winners for 2023, including team MVP Quincy Williams

A rundown of the team award winners for the Jets for 2023 including team MVP Quincy Williams.

The Jets announced their team award winners this week, including team MVP, their Good Guy Award and a few others. Some aren’t much of a surprise, some may be for some people.

The season certainly did not go the way the Jets had hoped for, starting with the injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 to the offense imploding. A 4-3 start turned into a 6-10 mark entering the final week of the season. All eyes are starting to turn the page to the 2024 season. But this is a good way to put a positive note on the 2023 season.

Here is a quick rundown of the winners for each award for the Jets in the 2023 season.

Jets activate Wes Schweitzer, Justin Hardee from injured reserve

The Jets announced Saturday they have activated offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer and defensive back/special-teamer Justin Hardee.

The Jets are getting two key pieces back from injured reserve for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The team announced Saturday they have activated offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer and defensive back/special-teamer Justin Hardee.

Schweitzer suffered a calf injury in Week 8 against the New York Giants. He’ll return to the starting lineup at right guard. Xavier Newman and Chris Glaser started at right guard during his absence. Hardee landed on IR after the Week 5 win in Denver with a hamstring injury. His return will be a boost on special teams, where Hardee earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022.

To make room, the Jets released safety Adrian Amos as well as Newman, who could very well return to the practice squad. The Jets are elevating offensive lineman Jake Hanson and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey from the practice squad for Sunday.

Jets promote two cornerbacks, place Justin Hardee on IR in group of roster moves Saturday

Jets promote two cornerbacks, place Justin Hardee on IR in group of roster moves Saturday

The Jets called up a pair of cornerbacks Saturday and activated one from injured reserve while placing one on injured reserve.

The Jets called up cornerbacks Craig James and Ke’Montae Hayes from the practice squad. As it turned out, the Jets really needed the depth as they will now be without both of their starting cornerbacks in Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, both out with a concussion.

Also on Saturday, the Jets activated rookie offensive tackle Carter Warren from injured reserve while placing special teams ace Justin Hardee on injured reserve with a hamstring injury that will sideline him about 4-6 weeks.

Hardee sustained the injury last Sunday and then aggravated it during practice this week. He underwent surgery Friday.

Justin Hardee out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury

Justin Hardee out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury

Jets special teams ace Justin Hardee is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to a hamstring injury, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Hardee initially suffered the injury last Sunday and then aggravated it on Wednesday. He has since undergone surgery and will now be out for a few weeks.

With the timeframe, Hardee is now a candidate to be placed on injured reserve and then return later in the season. Going on IR would keep Hardee out for at least four weeks anyway.

A tough season of injuries continues but at least this one for Hardee isn’t as serious.

Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Mosley, and Justin Hardee voted as Jets’ captains for 2023 season

Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Mosley, and Justin Hardee have all been voted as the Jets’ team captains for the 2023 season.

Aaron Rodgers is entering his first year as the quarterback of the New York Jets and he’ll unsurprisingly have a “C” patch on his jersey this season. Along with Rodgers, C.J. Mosley and Justin Hardee have been voted as the team captains of the Jets in 2023.

No one should be shocked that Rodgers was voted as the captain of the offense despite entering his debut year with the Jets. Expectations are astronomical this season due to the arrival of Rodgers, who continues to receive rave reviews from his coaching staff and new teammates ahead of Week 1.

On the defensive side of the ball, Mosley was named a captain for the third time during his tenure with the Jets. Since signing with New York in 2019, the veteran linebacker has been a captain of the defense every year except for 2020, which was when he opted out because of family health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lastly, Hardee was voted as the captain of New York’s special teams unit for the third straight year. Hardee has been a core special teamer for the Jets since signing with the organization in 2021 following a four-year stint with the New Orleans Saints to begin his career.

Justin Hardee donates over 300 book bags and school supplies to hometown

Justin Hardee helps give back to his hometown

Jets special teams ace Justin Hardee was one of the best players in that phase of the game last season, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl and doing great things on the field. Turns out, he’s also pretty great off the field as well.

Hardee shared on Twitter Saturday that he was able to donate over 300 book bags and school supplies to kids in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Hardee attended Glenville High School on the east side of Cleveland.

Along with Hardee’s donations, there were other events including free hair cuts and pizza from Papa John’s.

Hardee said it’s “a blessing to be able to give back.” This is just another example of the Jets being good people on and off the field.