Mike Harden
Encyclopedia
Michael Harden is a former professional American football
player who played safety from 1980 to 1990 for the Denver Broncos
and Los Angeles Raiders. Harden was selected by the Broncos in the 5th round of the 1980 NFL Draft
. During his 11-year NFL
career, he intercepted 38 passes for 663 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 14 fumble recoveries. On Special Teams, he returned 8 punts for 113 yards and a touchdown and returned 26 kickoffs for 414 yards.
Mike Harden was involved in one of the most jaw-shattering hits in NFL history. In a game during the 1988 season
, Harden intercepted a ball thrown by Quarterback Dave Krieg
. While running away from the Seattle players, Harden took a blindside hit from Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Steve Largent
. The hit was so hard that it caused Harden to fumble the ball, which was recovered by Largent. Largent later said in an interview that the hit was retaliation in part for an illegal hit that Harden gave Largent in another game earlier in the season that knocked out two of Largent's teeth. He was subsequently fined $5,000.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played safety from 1980 to 1990 for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Los Angeles Raiders. Harden was selected by the Broncos in the 5th round of the 1980 NFL Draft
1980 NFL Draft
The 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. During his 11-year NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
career, he intercepted 38 passes for 663 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 14 fumble recoveries. On Special Teams, he returned 8 punts for 113 yards and a touchdown and returned 26 kickoffs for 414 yards.
Mike Harden was involved in one of the most jaw-shattering hits in NFL history. In a game during the 1988 season
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
, Harden intercepted a ball thrown by Quarterback Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
. While running away from the Seattle players, Harden took a blindside hit from Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Steve Largent
Steve Largent
Steven Michael "Steve" Largent is a retired American football player, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a former U.S. Congressman, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma from 1994 until 2002...
. The hit was so hard that it caused Harden to fumble the ball, which was recovered by Largent. Largent later said in an interview that the hit was retaliation in part for an illegal hit that Harden gave Largent in another game earlier in the season that knocked out two of Largent's teeth. He was subsequently fined $5,000.