Bob Hayes

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Lore & Background

Hayes's speed fundamentally altered NFL defensive schemes. His unmatched velocity forced opponents to develop zone defenses and refine the bump-and-run technique simply to contain him. Spreading the defense out to cover Hayes allowed the Cowboys' running game, featuring rushers like Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison, and Duane Thomas, to flourish with diminished coverage at the line of scrimmage. In 1967, he led the NFL in punt return yards and set an NFL playoff record with 141 punt return yards in a 52-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns, also catching five passes for 145 yards including an 86-yard touchdown. His presence was so daunting that French anchor runner Jocelyn Delecour famously told teammate Paul Drayton before the 1964 Olympic relay final, 'You can't win, all you have is Bob Hayes,' to which Drayton replied, 'That's all we need.'

In Their Own Story

The 1967 NFL Championship game, known as the 'Ice Bowl' against the Green Bay Packers on New Year's Eve, featured a peculiar moment involving Hayes. He was alleged to have inadvertently disclosed whether the upcoming play was a pass or run; on running plays, he kept his hands inside his pants to keep them warm, signaling the offense to the defense. In the 1966 NFL Championship against the Packers, a missed blocking assignment by Hayes on linebacker Dave Robinson led to Don Meredith being nearly sacked and throwing an interception that sealed the loss. Despite these moments, his speed was legendary; during his rookie year with the Cowboys, he finished with 1,003 total yards, becoming only the second player in franchise history to surpass 1,000 yards in a single season.

Reader's Guide

Hayes was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (88th overall) of the 1964 NFL draft as a future pick. He wore number 22 and played split end for 11 seasons with the team before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers on July 17, 1975. In his rookie year alone, he led the team with 46 receptions and set franchise records for total touchdowns (13) and receiving touchdowns (12). Over his career, he accumulated 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, maintaining an impressive 20-yard-per-catch average that remains a franchise record. His touchdown reception record stood until 2017 when it was broken by Dez Bryant. He also rushed for 68 yards on 24 carries and gained 581 yards on 23 kickoff returns.

Did You Know?

• Hayes ran the 100-meter dash in borrowed spikes because one of his shoes had been kicked under his bed while he was playing with friends.
• His first two NFL seasons saw him lead the league in receiving touchdowns with 12 and 13 respectively.
• In the 1964 Olympics, Hayes ran the anchor leg for the US team that won gold in the 4x100-meter relay with a world record time of 39.06 seconds.
• He was the first person to break six seconds in the 60-yard dash with an indoor world record of 5.9 seconds during his college career.