The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

You may remember him as the starting QB for the St. Louis Cardinals and the guy who threw the pass in the Mel Gray "catch." But he was a Redskin too.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/communit ... fan-forum/

I know he owns a steak house in St. Louis with Dan Diefdorf. They had one in downtown right next to Busch Stadium, but it seems they've shut it down.

http://www.dierdorfharts.com/

I watched Jim Hart play when I was a kid when he was on the back end of his career (8th/9th season on). For 3 or 4 years, he may have been one of the coolest customers I've ever watched behind center, ala, Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, or Tom Brady. His stats aren't eye-popping (QB rating is 66.6) but he had his moments.

Hart led the "Cardiac" Cardinals teams in the mid 70s to quite a few come from behind victories and he was the first pro QB to engineer the Don Coryell offense which was hatched at San Diego State. In 1974 and 1975, the Cardinals were very good team, winning the NFC East both years. They just flopped in the playoffs. Good backfield in Terry Metcalf and Jim Otis. Clutch kicker Jim Bakken. Arguably one the best OLs ever with Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler, and Tom Banks. Mel Gray at WR and Jackie Smith at TE, HOF receivers. Great DBs in Larry Wilson and Roger Wehrli. The were a fun team to watch and always gave the Skins fits in these years. As smart and accurate as Hart was, his weakness was always his mobility (at least in his successful later years) but the OL he had masked that mostly.

When Coryell went to San Diego in 1978 the Cards and Hart faded away rapidly, playing until 1983. In 1984 he played as a backup for the Redskins, something I had forgotten about completely. Fun to watch him though. Thanks for the memories.

Jim Hart
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hart_% ... _player%29

1975 St. Louis Cardinals
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/t ... d/1975.htm