Cedrick Hardman, defensive end on Raiders Super Bowl XV Championship team passes away

Today the Raiders and 49ers lost one of their own. Cedrick Hardman has passed at the age of 70. He spent most of his career with the 49ers and was a stout pass rusher in a time when sacks weren’t a tracked stat. Over ten years in San Francisco from 1970-79, he became the 49ers unofficial sack leader — an unofficial record that stands to this day.

He crossed the bay to spend the final two years of his career with the Raiders. In his first season with the Raiders in 1980, he helped them to their win in Super Bowl XV over the Eagles, including a sack in the AFC Championship game against the Chargers.

His final year with the Raiders was 1981 when Howie Long was a rookie. He mentored the future Hall of Famer Long and was even his roommate.

Following his retirement from the NFL, Hardman spent a season as a player/coach for the Oakland Invaders of the USFL.

Some 20 or so years ago, I got one of my first ever autographs. It was Hardman. The inscription he left seems appropriate for a man whose time ended too soon.