Cedrick Hardman

Cedrick Ward Hardman (October 4, 1948 – March 8, 2019) was a defensive end who played thirteen seasons of professional football. San Francisco selected him in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft, and he became part of the 49ers' "Gold Rush" defensive line. He recorded 18 sacks in 14 games during the 1971 season, a franchise record that stood for over 40 years until Aldon Smith broke it in 2012. Hardman posted eight or more sacks in each of his first nine NFL seasons. He finished his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, leading the team in sacks in 1980 and earning a Super Bowl XV championship ring.