Hardy Nickerson

Hardy Nickerson
No. 54, 56
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	September 1, 1965 (age 59); Compton, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:	Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, California)
College:	California
NFL draft:	1987 / round: 5 / pick: 122
Career history
	As player: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987–1992); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993–1999); Jacksonville Jaguars (2000–2001); Green Bay Packers (2002); As coach: Chicago Bears (2007) (LB); Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA) (2010–2013) (HC); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014–2015) (LB); San Francisco 49ers (2016) (LB); Illinois (2017–2018) (DC/LB); Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA) (2022–present) (HC);
Career highlights and awards
	"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year (1997); 2× First-team All-Pro (1993, 1997); 2× Second-team All-Pro (1996, 1999); 5× Pro Bowl (1993, 1996–1999); NFL combined tackles leader (1993); NFL 1990s All-Decade Team; First-team All-Pac-10 (1985); 2× Second-team All-Pac-10 (1984, 1986); NFL record Most combined tackles in a season: 214 (1993);
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:
Total tackles:	1,586
Sacks:	21.0
Forced fumbles:	19
Fumble recoveries:	14
Interceptions:	12
	Player stats at PFR

Hardy Otto Nickerson Sr. (born September 1, 1965) is an American former professional football player and coach. He played professionally as a linebacker for four teams over 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 2002,. He played college football for the California Golden Bears. He was a fifth round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1987 NFL draft.^[1] Nickerson spent the prime of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hiring of head coaches Sam Wyche and Tony Dungy allowed Nickerson to play in the middle in a 4–3 defense for both coaches; Nickerson played in a 3–4 defense with the Steelers. While playing in the 4–3, Nickerson went to five Pro Bowls,^[2] and was selected for the National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team.