Nick Hardwick

Nick Hardwick (born September 2, 1981 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American football center for the San Diego Chargers. Hardwick joined the Purdue University football team in 2002 as a defensive tackle on the scout team. The next year, he became the team’s starting center and earned all-conference honors. He said that part of the reason he joined the Purdue football team was due to the team's 2001 Rose Bowl appearance. Hardwick's former Charger teammate Drew Brees was the quarterback of that team.

Hardwick has made 27 starts since he joined the Chargers in 2004. During the 2006 offseason, he agreed to a five-year $17 million contract extension with the Chargers.

Hardwick was a former high school wrestler at Lawrance North High School in Indianapolis. He and college roommate Kevin Kemper were both state runners-up in 1999. Lawrance North won the State Team Championship. Hardwick credits much of his success in football to the insperational words of his college roommate Nick "Birdee" Meyer.

In December of 2006, Hardwick was named the backup center for the AFC squad in the 2007 Pro Bowl, Jeff Saturday being the starter.