San Diego Chargers fans will be missing a familiar face on the offensive line next NFL season. After 11 seasons, all of them spent with the Chargers, Center Nick Hardwick has decided to retire from the National Football League. Earlier in the season, Hardwick was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a neck injury. But, a Fox Sports report says that the 33-year old center had made the decision before the season even began.
Hardwick was selected in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, after playing college football for Purdue with then Chargers Quarterback Drew Brees. Hardwick was given the starting Center job in 2004 when then starting Center Jason Ball was held out due to a contract dispute. Hardwick went on to start the 2005 and 2006 seasons, having started a total of 43 games and was named to the Pro Bowl as backup for starting Center Jeff Saturday. He was also named alternate to the Pro Bowl four times.
From the 2007 through 2013 seasons, Nick amassed 92 more starts. Then, suffered his neck injury in the opening game of the 2014 NFL season against the Arizona Cardinals. He has also been named San Diego Chargers Lineman of the Year twice in his career, as well as being named to the Chargers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2009.
According to Fox Sports, Quarterback Philip Rivers and second-year Head Coach Mike McCoy were both asked about Nick Hardwick on the field and off. Rivers got choked up when speaking about how he and Hardwick would practice schemes in preparation for a game, then go out on third-down and would just click. When asked about the type of player Hardwick was, he said that Nick is "That's why as coaches, we work so hard and put plans together to give guys like Nick an opportunity to succeed." McCoy also said of Hardwick, "Guys like this don't come around very often."
So, now the San Diego Chargers will have some time to decide who they are going to have replace Nick Hardwick, and if they are lucky it will be someone who will go on to have as good of a career as he did. However, one can only assume that the next time all of the Chargers players and staff walk into the locker room, they will miss the presence that Nick Hardwick brought.