NFL career
Despite his outstanding collegiate career, Hart's time in the National Football League (NFL) was short and uneventful. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, who used the 59th overall pick to select him, Hart saw action in only one game during his 1971 rookie year.[2] In that contest against the New Orleans Saints, Hart was on the field for just five plays, throwing one incomplete pass.[2]
The Falcons went to the well for a new quarterback again in the 1972 NFL draft, however, selecting Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan of Auburn University and Hart was released by the Falcons just two days ahead of the 1972 NFL season.[3] He was signed first by the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent.[4] The Rams subsequently waived him, however, and he was claimed off the waiver wire by the Buffalo Bills, for whom he saw action in the 1972 season.[4]
Hart's fleeting opportunity came on December 3 against the Baltimore Colts.[3] Bills starting quarterback Dennis Shaw had been concussed early in the 4th quarter of the team's previous game against the Cleveland Browns, and head coach Lou Saban turned to the 23-year old Hart to step into the void as a starter.[3]
"I've done little but watch others since I've come into pro football," Hart told a reporter ahead of the game, adding "I'm just happy about this opportunity — I hope I can take advantage of it."[3]
The Colts were a formidable foe for the Bills, having blanked the upstate New Yorkers three times in a row — by scores of 43-0, 24-0, and 17-0 — coming into Hart's December 3 trial by fire.[3] Unfortunately, things went just as poorly as they could have gone, with the inexperienced QB throwing a pair of first quarter picks to Colts safeties Jerry Logan and Rick Volk.[5] Star Buffalo running back O.J. Simpson was held to his worst game of the season, picking up just 26 yards on 14 carries in a 35–7 drubbing that was never close.[5] Hart went 4-for-9 for just 31 yards and the 2 interceptions before being lifted for Shaw, who went 10-for-15 for 150 and 1 pick in the losing effort.[5]
For the year Hart was 6-for-15 passing, for 54 yards with 3 interceptions.[6]
He remained on the Buffalo roster for the 1973 but never appeared in a regular season game for the team.[4] On April 26, 1974, Hart was traded to the New York Giants for a draft pick,[4] but he never played for the team, thereby ending his NFL career.
