Bob Hayes: Ring of Honor

[Hostile]

22 - Bob Hayes
"Bullet"
"World's Fastest Human"
1964 - 1973
WR, Florida A & M

3 time Pro Bowl...1965 - 67
3 time All Pro...1965, 67 - 68

Inducted in Cowboys Ring of Honor 9/23/01

Link to Bob Hayes' Ring of Honor page.

In 1964, Bob Hayes earned the title "World's Fastest Human" by winning two gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. This world-class speed would make him one of the most dynamic receivers in Dallas Cowboys history.

Hayes was drafted in the seventh round in 1964 as a futures selection, the same draft that yielded the Cowboys Mel Renfro and Roger Staubach. To this day, Hayes holds ten regular-season receiving records, four punt return records and 22 overall franchise marks, making him one of the greatest receivers to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys.

"He changed the game because of his speed," Hall of Fame coach Don Shula said. "He wasn't just the world's fastest human, he was a great athlete and football player. Put that together, and he made you change everything on your defense when you played the Cowboys."

"Bullet" Bob Hayes was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time All-Pro selection. Hayes played in two Super Bowls, winning the title following the 1971 season, the first world championship for the franchise.

An indelible image of Hayes's electrifying speed came in 1971 at Yankee Stadium when Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a 20-yard pass to Hayes that turned into an 85-yard touchdown. Hayes caught the ball even with cornerback Spider Lockhart, and in the next 65 yards built a 10-yard lead.

"It was very exciting having him in the offense," Staubach said. "He had the great speed, and he knew what to do with it."

Hayes was a two-sport star in college at Florida A&M, excelling in football and track. He would miss part of his senior season at Florida A&M to compete in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

In 1965, his rookie season with Dallas, Hayes became the franchise's only rookie to lead the team in receptions with 46 and in reception yards with 1,003. And in doing so, Hayes became the first player in franchise history to total more than 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. He finished his rookie year with a franchise-record 12 receiving touchdowns and a franchise-record 13 total touchdowns. As of 2002, Hayes still held or was tied for 22 franchise records, including 71 career touchdown receptions and a career 20.0 yards-per-catch average.

In one of the most emotional Ring of Honor induction ceremonies, Bob Hayes, on Sept. 23, 2001 - 12 days after the tragic World Trade Center collapse - became the 11th member enshrined at Texas Stadium. "He redefined what the position was all about," former teammate and NFL coach Mike Ditka said. "We need to get him in the Hall of Fame."

Born Dec. 20, 1942, in Jacksonville, Fla., died Sept. 19, 2002 after a long battle with prostate cancer and liver ailments.

[big dog cowboy]

My favorite memory of Bob Hayes will be when he finally gets inducted into the HOF. He changed the way the game is played and deserves to be there.

[notherbob]

One day in the late 60's, I was in the Cotton Bowl and watched Bob Hayes score four TDs against Philadelphia. Wow! What a performance.

Those who don't think he should be in the Hall of Fame might ask anyone who ever played or coached against him what they think. There have been plenty of speedy receivers but none of them even came close to his performance. Even the great Jerry Rice ran up a lot of big numbers but in a WCO where dinks and dunks automatically generate large numbers of receptions. Not trying to take anything away from Rice but his numbers would be a lot lower if he were in a standard pro set offense. He would still have been great but with a lower numbers of receptions probably.

Yes, he made a big mistake getting involved in drugs but he paid his price and never did it again.

It's the same old story, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make a bigoted, spiteful sportswriter change his prejudices." Some people should never be handed the reins of power over anything. Old Indian saying, "Those who seek power the most are the ones who should never be given it."

[WoodysGirl]

DMN

Bob Hayes, who won two gold medals at the Olympics, gives a straight arm to a San Francisco defender.

DMN file photo

Emmitt Smith, Bob Hayes and Michael Irvin celebrate after the Cowboys won the NFC championship.

[jobberone]

Early on the guy just blew past defenders. Watch some film and see him blow by both safeties deeply set up. They had learned to give him a huge cushion but it wasn't helping enough. They had to invent new defenses to keep him from killing them.

Some people just roll that off their lips without really realizing what a huge deal it was.

[Hostile]

This is the image of Bob Hayes that I most remember. Him breaking free and a DB trying to catch up to him.

Walt Garrison had one of the great all time lines about how fast Bob Hayes was. "Well, Bob won 2 Olympic gold medals and set the world record in the 100 at 9.1 seconds. I fell of a cliff one time that was 100 yards high and it took me longer to hit bottom."

The Giants used to have a very fast DB named Spider Lockhart. One time in a game Hayes blew past him for a TD despite Lockhart having a good angle. A reporter asked Bullet if he was worried. He replied, "no, he only runs a 9.3."

When people say Bob Hayes changed the way the game of football was played, it isn't an idle statement. There was no such thing as a Zone Defense until Bob Hayes made it necessary. No one DB could stay with him and if he got behind you, it was over. No one was going to catch him from behind.

His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a joke.

[bbgun]

Originally Posted by Hostile

[center]

This deserves a "p3wned" caption.

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Originally Posted by Hostile

When people say Bob Hayes changed the way the game of football was played, it isn't an idle statement. There was no such thing as a Zone Defense until Bob Hayes made it necessary. No one DB could stay with him and if he got behind you, it was over. No one was going to catch him from behind.

His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a joke.

I could not agree more. No individual player has caused more change in the game, singlehandedly, than Bob Hayes. Why the voters for the Hall of Fame cannot comprehend this is hard to understand. This alone even without his stats should have guaranteed him a place there.

It is because of Bob Hayes that I am now and have always been a Cowboys fan.

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by Hostile

This is the image of Bob Hayes that I most remember. Him breaking free and a DB trying to catch up to him.

Walt Garrison had one of the great all time lines about how fast Bob Hayes was. "Well, Bob won 2 Olympic gold medals and set the world record in the 100 at 9.1 seconds. I fell of a cliff one time that was 100 yards high and it took me longer to hit bottom."

The Giants used to have a very fast DB named Spider Lockhart. One time in a game Hayes blew past him for a TD despite Lockhart having a good angle. A reporter asked Bullet if he was worried. He replied, "no, he only runs a 9.3."

[View Full Quote]

When people say Bob Hayes changed the way the game of football was played, it isn't an idle statement. There was no such thing as a Zone Defense until Bob Hayes made it necessary. No one DB could stay with him and if he got behind you, it was over. No one was going to catch him from behind.

His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a joke.

Thanks for the photo and wonderful post. I have such fond memories of those times. I guess it's a sign of getting older.

[MichaelWinicki]

He was really fast.

[Cbz40]

Meredith to Hayes........TDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. That was fun...

[Cajuncowboy]

If he were playing in today's game he would be the premier WR.

Bob Hayes...I think we shall never see your likes again.

[Juke99]

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