Hardy Nickerson facts for kids

Hardy Otto Nickerson Sr. (born September 1, 1965) is a former American football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He started his career in 1987 and retired in 2002.

Hardy Nickerson played college football for the California Golden Bears. He was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1987 NFL Draft. He spent most of his best playing years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was known for being a strong player in the middle of the defense.

He was chosen for the National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team. This means he was one of the best players of the 1990s. He also went to the Pro Bowl five times.

Early Life and College Years

Hardy Nickerson grew up in Compton, California. He went to Verbum Dei High School, a Catholic school in Watts, Los Angeles.

After high school, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a degree in sociology in 1989. While there, he played college football for the California Golden Bears.

Playing in the NFL

Hardy Nickerson played for four different teams during his NFL career. He was a linebacker, a key defensive position. Linebackers stop players from running and also try to tackle the quarterback.

Starting with the Steelers

Hardy Nickerson began his NFL journey with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for them from 1987 to 1992. During this time, he learned a lot about playing in the NFL.

Becoming a Star with the Buccaneers

His career really took off when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993. He played for the Buccaneers until 1999. With the Buccaneers, he became one of the league's top linebackers.

He was selected for the Pro Bowl five times while playing for Tampa Bay. He also led the entire NFL in combined tackles in 1993. That year, he made an amazing 214 tackles! He was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. This shows how important he was to his team.

Later Teams and Big Achievements

After the Buccaneers, Nickerson played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2000 to 2001. He finished his playing career with the Green Bay Packers in 2002.

Throughout his career, he made 1,586 total tackles. He also had 21 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, and 12 interceptions. These numbers show he was a very active and effective player.

Life After Playing: Coaching and Broadcasting

After retiring as a player, Hardy Nickerson stayed involved with football. He worked as a radio announcer and a coach.

Broadcasting Career

In 2006, he became a color analyst for the Buccaneer Radio Network. This meant he helped explain the game during radio broadcasts. He worked alongside veteran announcer Gene Deckerhoff.

Coaching High School and College

Nickerson also spent time coaching at different levels. From 2010 to 2013, he was the head football coach at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California. This school is known for producing NFL players. He led his team to two league titles. He also helped nearly 20 players earn college scholarships. He returned to coach Bishop O'Dowd High School again in 2022.

He also coached college football at the University of Illinois. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there from 2017 to 2018.

Coaching in the NFL

Hardy Nickerson also coached in the NFL. In 2007, he was the linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears. He later coached linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2014 to 2015. In 2016, he was the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

Family Life

Hardy Nickerson has a son named Hardy Nickerson Jr.. His son also became a professional football player. Hardy Nickerson Jr. played as a linebacker in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings.