Perry Hartnett
{{Short description|American football player (born 1960)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Perry Hartnett
| number = 71, 67, 62, 63
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|4|28}}
| birth_place = Galveston, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 278
| high_school = Ball (Galveston)
| college = SMU (1978–1981)
| draftyear = 1982
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 116
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1982|1983}})
- Chicago Blitz ({{USFL Year|1984}})
- Baltimore Stars ({{USFL Year|1985}})*
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1985}})*
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1987}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 12
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 5
| pfr = HartPe20
}}
Perry Edmond Hartnett (born April 28, 1960) is an American former professional football guard. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs and later had stints in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL). He was a member of the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers in the NFL, while being with the Chicago Blitz and Baltimore Stars in the USFL. Hartnett played 12 NFL games, five as a starter, in addition to 16 USFL games in his career.
Early life
Hartnett was born on April 28, 1960, in Galveston, Texas.{{Cite web|url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20.htm|title = Perry Hartnett Stats|website = Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date = March 28, 2018|archive-date = March 3, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201238/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20.htm|url-status = live}} He attended Ball High School in Galveston; he was the ninth alumni of the school to play in the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93b848f2|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Ball (Galveston, TX) Alumni Pro Stats|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207121713/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93b848f2|url-status=live}} He became a starter for the football team at tackle as a sophomore.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-marque-times/133405360/|newspaper=The La Marque Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 4, 1975|page=27|title=Galveston Tors Spin To Top?}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news/133405499/|newspaper=The Galveston Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 25, 1976|page=27|title=No Monsters, Just Hitters In Tor Offensive Line|author=Power, Irvin}} {{Open access}} He reportedly appeared to have little hope of continuing his football career as a junior, weighing only {{convert|218|lb|kg}}, but increased in size to {{convert|265|lb|kg}} as a senior and began receiving attention.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/133405566/|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 24, 1981|page=43, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/133405780/ 47]|title=Hartnett anchoring able SMU offensive line|author=Carley, Jim}} {{Open access}} The magazine Dave Campbell's Texas Football named him the top lineman in the state in an article previewing the 1977 season, Hartnett's senior year, and at the end of the season, he was selected Adidas All-American, All-District, and honorable mention All-American by National High School Athletic Coaches.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news/133405813/|newspaper=The Galveston Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 20, 1977|page=38|title=Only Game In Town|author=McKenna, David}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news/133405957/|newspaper=The Galveston Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 21, 1978|page=11|title=Hartnett, Weber, Little All-American Selections}} {{Open access}} He committed to play college football for the SMU Mustangs.
College career
Hartnett married his wife, Donna, the day before football practice began in his freshman year at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He did not play his first year, 1978, and nearly quit as a sophomore in 1979, but his wife convinced him to stay. He started his first game on the offensive line mid-season that year and saw more starting action as a junior in 1980. As a senior in 1981, he helped them finish with a 10–1 record and No. 6 ranking while being named first-team All-Southwest Conference (SWC).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paris-news/133407051/|newspaper=The Paris News|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 1, 1981|page=8|title=Mustangs hog AP All-SWC team voting|author=Freeman, Denne H.}} {{Open access}}
Professional career
Hartnett was selected in the fifth round (116th overall) of the 1982 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nfldraft.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1982 NFL Draft|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907001727/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nfldraft.html|url-status=live}} He signed his rookie contract on June 16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/133407178/|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 17, 1982|page=88|title=Briefs}} {{Open access}} He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions and appeared in all nine games during the strike-shortened 1982 season, posting four starts while playing guard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20/gamelog/|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Perry Hartnett Career Game Log|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=October 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014030603/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HartPe20/gamelog/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nflchib.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1982 Chicago Bears (NFL)|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=April 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401132309/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nflchib.html|url-status=live}} He lost his starting job in the 1983 training camp and was released. He was then signed again, appeared in two games as a backup, and was released again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/hart04400.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Perry Hartnett Stats|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401072936/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/hart04400.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/133407419/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 23, 1983|page=49|title=Two ex-Bears join the Blitz move to youth|author=Jauss, Bill}} {{Open access}}
In November 1983, Hartnett signed with the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League (USFL) following his release by the Bears. He played 16 of 18 games for the Blitz in the 1984 season as they went 5–13.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1984usflchi.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1984 Chicago Blitz (USFL)|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422100153/https://www.profootballarchives.com/1984usflchi.html|url-status=live}} He joined the Baltimore Stars for the 1985 season but did not make the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor/133407665/|newspaper=The Monitor|via=Newspapers.com|agency=United Press International|date=December 8, 1984|page=22|title=USFL Draft}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-news/133407757/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 10, 1985|page=32|title=Transactions}} {{Open access}}
Following his USFL stints, Hartnett returned to the NFL by signing with the Buffalo Bills in May 1985.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsh/hart04400.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Perry Hartnett NFL Transactions|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211018/https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsh/hart04400.html|url-status=live}} He was waived on July 31 that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/133407866/|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 1, 1985|page=86|title=Buffalo waived Hartnett}} {{Open access}} He then joined the Green Bay Packers, but was released on August 19.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/133408043/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 3, 1985|page=18|title=Notebook}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/133408099/|newspaper=The La Crosse Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 20, 1985|page=25|title=Transactions}} {{Open access}} Hartnett remained out of football afterwards until re-joining the Packers in October 1987, as a replacement player during the National Football League Players Association strike.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/133408144/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 6, 1987|page=6|title=Risher eyes permanent Packers job|author=McGinn, Bob}} {{Open access}} He played in their loss against the Detroit Lions and was injured in the game; he himself had been a replacement for the injured replacement player John McGarry.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times/133408260/|newspaper=The Journal Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 12, 1987|page=11|title=Packers' Killer 'B's lose sting}} {{Open access}} He was released at the end of the strike and never played professionally again. Hartnett ended his career with 12 games played, five as a starter, in the NFL, in addition to his 16 USFL games.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartnett, Perry}}
Category:Players of American football from Galveston, Texas
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Chicago Blitz players
Category:Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:American football offensive guards