Dee Hardison

{{Short description|American football player (1956–2018)}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL player

|number=74, 79, 92, 93

|position=Defensive end
Defensive tackle

|birth_date={{Birth date|1956|5|2|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Jacksonville, North Carolina, U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2018|04|21|1956|05|02|mf=y}}

|death_place=Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.

|height_ft=6

|weight_lb=274

|height_in=4

|draftyear=1978

|draftround=2

|draftpick=32

|high_school=Hobbton {{nowrap|(Newton Grove, North Carolina)}}

|college=North Carolina

|teams=

• Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1978|1980}})
• New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1981|1985}})
• San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1986|1987}})
• Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|1988}})

| highlights =

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (1978)
• Consensus All-American (1977)
• 2× First-team All-ACC (1976, 1977)
• North Carolina Tar Heels Jersey No. 71 honored

|statlabel1=Sacks

|statvalue1=17.0

|statlabel2=Fumble recoveries

|statvalue2=2

|pfr=H/HardDe21

}}

William David "Dee" Hardison (May 2, 1956 – April 21, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end and defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills (1978–1980), New York Giants (1982–1985), San Diego Chargers (1986–1987) and Kansas City Chiefs (1988). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Hardison helped the Bills win the 1980 AFC East Division and helped the Bills defense lead the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed in 1978 and the AFC in 1979 and 1980 and NFL in fewest total yards allowed in 1980 and the Chiefs lead the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed in 1988.

In ten seasons, Hardison had nine sacks.

Hardison died on April 21, 2018, at the age of 61.{{cite news|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/sports/20180422/ex-hobbton-unc-football-star-dee-hardison-dies-at-61|title=Ex-Hobbton, UNC football star Dee Hardison dies at 61|publisher=fayobserver.com|author=Sammy Batten|date=2018-04-22|accessdate=2018-04-22}}