Kevin Hardy: Pick #2 in the 1996 NFL Draft

Kevin Hardy is a former outside linebacker out of Illinois, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 2nd overall pick (round 1) in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played 134 regular-season games from 1996 to 2004. From 1999 on, he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. He was named to 1 Pro Bowl.

Draft Details

Year

1996

Round

Round 1

Pick

2nd overall

Team

Jacksonville Jaguars

Position

OLB

College

Illinois

Kevin Hardy Career Stats

1× Pro Bowl selection, 1× first-team All-Pro.
Primary starter for 9 seasons.
Ranks 9th in the 1996 draft class in sacks (36).

Career Totals

Games	Solo Tkl	Sacks	Def INT
134	563	36	5

Defense

Season	Team	G	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sacks	QB Hits	INT	PD	FF
1999	JAX	16	62	22	12	10.5	10	0	1	2
2000	JAX	16	59	14	6	3	2	1	6	2
2001	JAX	9	49	12	7	5.5	6	0	3	0
2002	DAL	16	54	15	8	2	0	0	11	2
2003	CIN	16	43	32	0	1	0	0	4	1
2004	CIN	15	31	27	0	4	0	0	4	0
Since 1999		88	298	122	33	26	18	1	29	7

G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.

Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

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Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	NYJ	Keyshawn Johnson	WR	USC, West Los Angeles College
1	3	ARI	Simeon Rice	DE	Illinois
1	4	BAL	Jonathan Ogden	OT	UCLA
1	5	NYG	Cedric Jones	DE	Oklahoma
1	6	LA	Lawrence Phillips	RB	Nebraska
1	7	NE	Terry Glenn	WR	Ohio State
1	8	CAR	Tim Biakabutuka	RB	Michigan
1	9	LV	Rickey Dudley	TE	Ohio State
1	10	CIN	Willie Anderson	OT	Auburn
1	11	NO	Alex Molden	DB	Oregon