Bob Hayes facts for kids
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| Position: | Split end | ||||||||
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| Born: | December 20, 1942 Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Died: | September 18, 2002 (aged 59) Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Matthew Gilbert (Jacksonville, FL) |
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| College: | Florida A&M | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 7 / Pick: 88 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 metres 200 metres 4 × 100 metres |
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| Club | MVP Track & Field Club | |||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 60 yd: 5.9h 70 yd: 6.9h WR |
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Medal record
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Robert Lee Hayes (born December 20, 1942 – died September 18, 2002) was an amazing American athlete. He was known as "Bullet Bob" because he was incredibly fast!
Bob Hayes was special because he is the only person ever to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. He was a star in two sports: track and field (running) and American football. He played as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys for 11 seasons.
He was so fast that he was once called the "world's fastest human." He held world records in many running events. In 2001, he was honored by the Dallas Cowboys, and in 2009, he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Who Was "Bullet Bob" Hayes?
Bob Hayes was a legendary athlete who excelled in both track and field and American football. He was known for his incredible speed, which earned him the nickname "Bullet Bob." His achievements made him a unique figure in sports history.
Early Life and High School
Bob Hayes grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He went to Matthew Gilbert High School. In high school, he played as a backup halfback on the football team.
In 1958, his high school team, the Gilbert High Panthers, had a perfect season. They won all 12 of their games. They even won the state championship for black schools. This was a big achievement, but it didn't get much attention at the time due to segregation laws. Years later, their team was recognized as one of Florida's best high school teams ever.
College Star: Track and Football
Bob Hayes was a very talented athlete. He received a football scholarship to Florida A&M University. This was a historically black college. At Florida A&M, he became an even bigger star in track and field.
Breaking Records in College
Bob Hayes never lost a race in the 100-yard or 100-meter events during his college career. In 1962, he tied the world record for the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.2 seconds. He was also the first person to run the 60-yard dash in under six seconds, setting a world record of 5.9 seconds indoors.
In 1963, Hayes broke the 100-yard dash record again. He ran it in an amazing 9.1 seconds. This record stood for eleven years! He also set a world best for the 200 meters that year. His football coach, Jake Gaither, didn't want him to miss football practice for track. But President Lyndon B. Johnson himself called the coach. He insisted that Hayes be allowed to train for the Olympics.
Hayes won the AAU 100-yard dash championship three years in a row (1962-1964). In 1964, he was also the NCAA champion in the 200-meter dash. He missed part of his senior year to prepare for the Olympics.
In 1976, Bob Hayes was one of the first people inducted into the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame. He also joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2011, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Olympic Glory in Tokyo
The 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was a huge moment for Bob Hayes. He showed the world just how fast he was.
The "World's Fastest Human"
First, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter race. He tied the world record with a time of 10.06 seconds. This was amazing because he was running in Lane 1. This lane was rough because it had been used for a long walking race the day before. He even had to run in borrowed shoes!
A Famous Relay Race
Hayes won a second gold medal in the 4×100 meter relay race. His team also set a new World Record of 39.06 seconds. His part of the relay race was incredible. He came from behind to win for the U.S. team. His leg of the race was timed between 8.5 and 8.9 seconds. Many consider it the fastest relay leg in history!
After the Olympics, at just 21 years old, Bob Hayes stopped running track. He decided to focus completely on football.
NFL Career with the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys picked Bob Hayes in the 1964 NFL Draft. They took a chance on him, hoping his Olympic speed would make him a great wide receiver. This was a great decision! Many people say Hayes' speed forced other NFL teams to change how they played defense. They had to create new strategies like the zone defense and the bump and run to try and stop him.
A Game-Changer in Football
Hayes had a fantastic start to his NFL career. In his first two seasons, he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns. He scored 12 touchdowns in 1965 and 13 in 1966. In one game in 1966, he caught six passes for 195 yards against the New York Giants. Later, against the Washington Redskins, he caught nine passes for 246 yards. This was a Cowboys record for many years!
Because Hayes was so fast, opposing teams had to spread out their defense. This made it easier for the Cowboys' running backs to gain yards. Players like Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison, and Duane Thomas benefited from this. In 1967, Hayes also led the NFL in punt return yards. He set an NFL playoff record with 141 punt return yards in a game against the Cleveland Browns.
Amazing Records and Achievements
Bob Hayes wore jersey number 22 for the Cowboys. This number was later worn by famous running back Emmitt Smith. In 1975, Hayes was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He played one season there before ending his career.
Besides catching passes, Hayes was also a great punt returner. In 1968, he led the NFL with an average of 20.8 yards per punt return. He even scored two punt return touchdowns, including a 90-yard one!
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He was also named First-team All-Pro twice. Hayes helped the Cowboys win many games. He played in two Super Bowls and helped the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl in 1972. This made him the only person to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.
Hayes was the second player in Dallas Cowboys history to gain over 1,000 yards in a single season. He did this in his rookie year with 1,003 yards. He also set franchise records for total touchdowns (13) and receiving touchdowns (12) in his first year.
He finished his 11-year career with 371 catches for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. His average of 20 yards per catch is still a Cowboys record! His touchdown reception record stood until 2017. He also returned punts for 1,158 yards and three touchdowns. Bob Hayes holds many Cowboys records, making him one of their greatest receivers ever.
Later Career and Legacy
On September 18, 2002, Bob Hayes passed away in his hometown of Jacksonville.
Joining the Hall of Fame
On January 31, 2009, Bob Hayes was chosen to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This was a huge honor for him and his family.
A letter was shared that was said to be written by Hayes before he passed away. In the letter, he thanked everyone who supported him. He thanked the Dallas Cowboys, his teammates, fans, his family, and many others. This moment was very touching for everyone watching.
On August 8, 2009, Bob Hayes was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His former teammate, Roger Staubach, and his son, Bob Hayes Jr., helped unveil his bust. Six members of his high school championship team were there to celebrate with him. He was also inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Hayes para niños
