34. John Hadl

34. John Hadl

Hailing from Lawernce, Kansas, John Willard Hadl might have been somewhat undersized at quarterback standing at 6'1, but he's been able to create quite the legacy for himself as an elite passer and athlete in pro-football. Prior to his AFL/NFL career, John Hadl played his collegiate football in his home state at the University of Kansas where he not only played quarterback, he played halfback and defense back as well. In 1960, Hadl was named All-American for his performance as a running back and All-American the following year for his performance as a quarterback. Hadl led the Jayhawks to victory in the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1961 and won MVP in the College All-Star Game that same year.

John Hadl was selected 10th overall in the 1962 NFL Draft and 24th overall in the third round of the 1962 AFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers where he played from 1962 to 1972. In 1963, Hadl helped lead the Chargers to an AFL Championship and was named a 4x AFL All-Star and 2x NFL Pro Bowler throughout his sixteen-season pro-football career. In 1971, Hadl led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. Prior to retiring in 1978, John Hadl also played for teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Houston Oilers.

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Did You Know...

I

Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.

II

Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.

III

Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.

IV

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.

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