Former Bills wide receiver James Hardy was found dead in a river near his home in Fort Wayne, Indiana yesterday, officials announced today. He was 31.
Hardy’s body was discovered in the Maumee River on Wednesday after a water filtration worker called police. The coroner’s office confirmed Hardy’s identity today.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of James Hardy today,” the Bills said in a statement. “We send our condolences to the Hardy family as they deal with his tragic loss.”
An All-Big Ten receiver at Indiana who also played on the Hoosiers’ basketball team, Hardy was the Bills’ second-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. But his NFL career was a disappointment, as he recorded just 10 catches and was plagued by hamstring injuries.
In 2014, Hardy was committed to a mental health facility after he was accused of attacking three police officers and a judge ruled he was not competent to stand trial.