Gerald Hayes facts for kids
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | October 10, 1980 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Passaic County Technical Institute (Wayne, New Jersey) |
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| College: | Pittsburgh | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2003 / Round: 3 / Pick: 70 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Gerald Hayes (born October 10, 1980) is a former professional football player from the United States. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). A linebacker is a defensive player who lines up behind the defensive line and can do many things, like tackle opponents or rush the quarterback.
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Early Life and High School Football
Gerald Hayes grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. He played high school football at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, New Jersey. While there, he was teammates with other future NFL players, Marcel Shipp and Mike Adams.
College Football Career
After high school, Gerald Hayes went to the University of Pittsburgh. He studied Administration of Justice. While playing for the Pittsburgh Panthers college football team, he was a standout player.
- He was chosen for the All-Big East Conference team three times.
- By the end of his college career, he had made 402 total tackles. A tackle is when a defensive player stops the player with the ball.
- He also had 1.5 sacks and two interceptions. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass thrown by the opposing team's quarterback.
Professional Football Journey
Gerald Hayes was a talented player who made it to the NFL. He was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. The NFL Draft is where professional teams pick new players from college.
Playing for the Arizona Cardinals
Gerald Hayes spent most of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. He played for them from 2003 to 2010. He was an important part of their defense. During his time with the Cardinals, he made 431 total tackles, showing how good he was at stopping opposing players. He also had 5.5 sacks and made 4 interceptions.
He was released by the Cardinals in July 2011.
Time with the San Diego Chargers
After leaving the Cardinals, Gerald Hayes signed with the San Diego Chargers in October 2011. He played for them for a short time before being released in November 2011.
Gerald Hayes's NFL Achievements
Gerald Hayes had a solid career in the NFL. He was known for his strong tackling and ability to make big plays on defense. His career statistics show he was a consistent player who contributed a lot to his teams.
