As the passing game opened up, many Quarterbacks received their due as national stars. Jim Hart was one of the new breed of pivots, though he did not generate the same buzz as some of his peers.
It wasn't that the Cardinals didn't have any good seasons while Hart played there, as in the mid-70s, they rifled off three consecutive ten-win seasons. This period coincided with Hart's four straight Pro Bowl appearances. Jim Hart became one of the most durable and respected Quarterbacks in the NFL, and due to that durability, he was able to accumulate a very impressive career in terms of statistics.
Unfortunately, as the leader of bad teams for the majority of his career, Hart was considered a good player, who wasn’t good enough to take his team to the next level. This may explain why he never received any real look from football historians, though it should be acknowledged that UPI named Hart their MVP in 1974.
With the Cardinals, Hart amassed 34,639 Yards and an even 200 Touchdown Passes, and he was selected to join the Cardinals Ring of Honor in 2017.