What does Justin Hardy’s “Wolf” nickname mean?

If you know anything about the Falcons’ receiving core, they have all given themselves nicknames.

WR Mohamed Sanu Sr. outlined the full roster of nicknames last week.

Julio Jones is “Jet Jones,” Sanu is “Agent 12,” Calvin Ridley appears to be “The Riddler,” Marvin Hall is “Big Play Marv,” Russell Gage is, aptly, “Gage” and I believe that’s Reggie Davis as “Ghost.”

All of those make sense, except for Davis’, though that might indicate he’s like a ghost when he runs past you to get the catch? Er, admittedly, that’s spit-balling.

WR Justin Hardy and his nickname of “Wolf” was the mysterious one, and , but your intrepid Falcoholic nickname reporter caught up with Hardy last December to get the lowdown on what exactly “Wolf” means.

Well, it’s a name bestowed to him from Falcons WRs coach Raheem Morris.

“Coach Rah gave it to me,” Hardy said. “He was on the defensive side of the ball at the time.”

Hardy says the nickname highlights that his fearless nature and that he’s willing to do whatever he needs to for the team.

In January 2017 right before the team’s big Super Bowl appearance, Hardy was sporting a James Harden-style beard, and teammate Ryan Schraeder cited that beard, and his tenacity as where the nickname “The Wolf” came from, per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

“I believe the beard is the reason we call him ‘The Wolf,’” right tackle Ryan Schraeder said. “He’s fun to watch. He’s a dog competitor. It’s fun to go to battle with guys like him.”

So, that’s where “Wolf” comes from!

Here’s to more “Wolvery” from Hardy as he tries to grow even further in his Falcons uniform this fall, a contract year for the young receiver.