Greg Hardy

Gregory McKarl Hardy (born July 28, 1988) is a former American football defensive end, professional mixed martial artist, and professional boxer who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Ole Miss and was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Hardy's most successful season was in 2013 when he set the Panthers' single-season record for sacks, earning him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. During the following off-season, however, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend. Although the case was dismissed after the victim failed to appear in court, the ensuing controversy led to him not being re-signed by the Panthers after playing one game with them in 2014. Hardy spent his final NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys. After the conclusion of his football career, Hardy became a mixed martial artist. He was signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from 2019 to 2022, where he competed in the heavyweight division. Early years Hardy attended Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee, where he was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track. In football, he helped lead his team to the state championship in 2004. As a senior, he was credited with 65 tackles, including 12 for loss and six sacks, while also receiving 48 passes for 268 yards. Hardy played with offensive tackle Michael Oher at both Briarcrest Christian School and Ole Miss. In basketball, he was an honorable mention all-state as a junior.