Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver James Hardy III was found dead Wednesday in the Maumee River in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Allen County coroner's office announced Thursday that a body found in the river the day before had been identified as Hardy:
BREAKING: Allen County Coroner's Office ID's body found in river yesterday as former NFL player James Hardy III.
— Fort Wayne's NBC (@FortWaynesNBC) June 8, 2017
Hardy was a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, when the Bills selected him out of Indiana University. He was with the team for two seasons, catching 10 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bills released a statement in the wake of his passing.
Our support is with the Hardy family after the passing of former Bills WR James Hardy. pic.twitter.com/4ZgLDUwyPA
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) June 8, 2017
Hardy, who was 31 years old at the time of his death, was born and grew up in Fort Wayne. As of this time, the coroner's office has not been able to determine a cause of death.
