Inductees

He was born and raised in the northern California town of Stockton, starred as an undersized and intelligent running back for a West Coast college, later played for the Green Bay Packers and then, only three seasons into the National Football League, found his career at a crossroads.

There Willard Harrell was in the summer of 1978, having been released but given a tryout by the St. Louis Football Cardinals, who asked him to return some punts, run a few passing routes and catch a few passes.

“And that was it. They put me back on a plane and told me they would be in touch,” Harrell recalled.

Fortunately, the Cardinals did come calling, and Harrell made the most of it, spending seven seasons (1978-1985) in St. Louis. And his work there – and team-first attitude – are why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Harrell with the Class of 2025.

When Harrell retired ahead of the 1986 season, coach Jim Hanifan (MSHOF 2005) called him, “one of the smallest men to play in the National Football League in size and certainly one of the biggest in heart, desire and intelligence.”

Years later, the Big Red Zone blog, which is dedicated to the history of the Football Cardinals, listed Harrell as the No. 81 player in franchise history.

To Harrell, he was like Forrest Gump – always in interesting places, such as Lambeau Field with Bart Starr as coach; at St. Louis with Jim Hart (MSHOF 1998) as quarterback; and later befriended Ozzie Smith (MSHOF Legend 2005).

Harrell finished his career with 1,378 yards rushing and 1,135 yards receiving in 136 games.

And he cannot help but thank Hanifan, a former college football assistant coach from 1966 to 1972 with Utah, California and San Diego State.

After playing at Edison High School in Stockton, he starred for the University of the Pacific, setting a career rushing mark of 3,324 yards and scored 224 points – scoring 33 touchdowns.

Harrell twice earned Associated Press All-American honors. As a junior, he led the nation in all-purpose yards (177.7) and set an NCAA record for the longest kickoff return (100 yards).

After the 1974 season, he was the co-Most Valuable Player in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game, played in the Texas All-American Game, the Hula Bowl and the 1975 Chicago All-Star game against the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pacific has since inducted Harrell into its Athletics Hall of Fame, and retired his jersey No. 39.

“A few days later (after the workout), they contacted my agent with an offer and I became a Cardinal,” Harrell said. “I found out later that Hanifan was responsible for me becoming a Cardinal. He remembered me from my college days and always wanted me to play for him.”

However, in 1979, Harrell had to adjust after the Cardinals drafted rusher Otis Anderson in the first round.

“He had speed and could run you over if he wanted to,” Harrell said. “That’s when I realized what my role was going to be. They didn’t draft him in the first round to sit on the bench. So I took it upon myself to help Otis become the best running back he could be. He understood we had one common goal, to win a championship.

“I checked my ego and showed him everything I had learned from my three prior years in the league. He accepted me as his mentor, and I feel I had a small part in his great career.”

As a rookie, Harrell had led the Packers in punt returns (6.5 avg.), was the team’s second-leading rusher (359 yards, one touchdown) and receiver (34 catches, 261 yards, two touchdowns), and threw three TD passes in only five attempts. He also led the team in rushing in 1976, with 435 yards in 130 attempts.

And so Harrell went to work with the Cardinals, doing everything, even blocking.

“I was 185 pounds soaking wet and had to block 225-pound linebackers,” Harrell said.

He did have his moments, though. In a 1978 Monday Night Football game against Washington, Harrell had a 70-yard punt return for a TD.

Looking back, Harrell thanks high school coach Charles Washington and Pacific coach Jack Jordon for working him hard.

Harrell and his wife, Sandy, live in Lake St. Louis and are parents to Paul, Patrick and Christina.

“This induction is the icing on the cake for my professional athletic career, and it’s an honor to be enshrined and a part of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame,” Harrell said.