Former SJSU football star Hadari Darden found safe

Darden, 28, was located after an extensive search, his family confirmed.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting in shades of green, gold, and blue, depicting a fragmented, multi-perspective view of a football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes representing the dynamic action of the sport.The safe return of a beloved former college football player brings relief to his community.San Jose Today

A former San Jose State football standout who had been missing for more than a week has been located safely, his family confirmed on Wednesday. Hadari Darden, 28, was found after an extensive search, according to his mother Hanifea Click.

Why it matters

Darden's disappearance had sparked concern in the local community, especially among his former teammates and coaches at San Jose State University, where he was a standout linebacker from 2017 to 2020.

The details

Darden was last seen by his family on April 4 on the Peninsula. Concerns grew when he failed to report for work that Monday at Kaiser Permanente, where he serves in the radiology transport department. The family subsequently filed a missing person report after he missed his shifts.

  • Darden was last seen by his family on April 4.
  • Darden failed to report for work on April 11.
  • The family filed a missing person report after Darden missed his shifts.

The players

Hadari Darden

A 28-year-old former football standout at San Jose State University, where he played as a linebacker from 2017 to 2020.

Hanifea Click

Hadari Darden's mother, who shared the news of his safe return with KTVU.

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What they’re saying

“Hadari has been found. I don't have all the details yet! Thank you for everything in getting the information out there to help bring him home!”

— Hanifea Click, Hadari Darden's mother

The takeaway

The safe return of Hadari Darden, a beloved former college football player, is a relief for his family, friends, and the broader community that rallied to find him. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community support and vigilance in missing persons cases.