Mike Haynes (cornerback) facts for kids

Michael James Haynes (born July 1, 1953) is a famous American former football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was a star player for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Raiders. Many people think he is one of the best cornerbacks ever.

Mike Haynes was known for his amazing speed, strength, and quickness. These skills made him a top defensive player. He was also great at returning punts. He was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He also joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. His long career lasted 14 years. He was even named to the NFL's 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

In 1976, Mike Haynes was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl nine times during his career. He was also a first-team All-Pro twice. He was picked for the second-team All-Pro six times. This included five years in a row from 1976 to 1980. He was also part of the National Football League 1980s All-Decade Team.

Growing Up and High School Football

Mike Haynes grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to T.S. King Middle School. He played football at John Marshall High School. He was a cornerback on the team. He was so good that he was chosen as one of the school's top players.

Besides football, Mike was also a talented track and field athlete. He still holds the school record for the long jump at John Marshall. In his senior year (1971), he played both offense and defense. He was the quarterback and a cornerback. Even though his team had a tough season, Mike's skills stood out. In 1986, John Marshall High School honored him. They named the school's football stadium after him.

Mike's amazing athletic talent was clear in track. In one meet, he had to run the last part of a relay race. Then, he had to quickly get ready for his final long jump. He leaped 23 feet, 5 inches. This jump set a new school record that still stands today. It also helped his team win the league championship!

College Football Journey

Mike Haynes played college football at Arizona State. He was a fantastic player there. He was chosen as an All-Western Athletic Conference player three times. He was also named an All-America player twice.

During his four years at Arizona State, Mike intercepted 17 passes. In 1974, his junior year, he led the nation with 11 interceptions. He also set a school record that year. He returned 46 punts. In 1975, he scored two touchdowns from punt returns. In 2000, his great college career was recognized. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Playing in the NFL

Starting with the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots picked Mike Haynes in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He had an amazing first year as a rookie. He made eight interceptions and recovered three fumbles. He also led the AFC with 608 yards on 45 punt returns.

In 1976, Mike scored the Patriots' first-ever touchdowns on punt returns. He had returns of 89 and 62 yards. His great play earned him a Pro Bowl invitation in his first year. This was the first of his nine Pro Bowl selections. He also won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The 1976 Patriots had a great record of 11 wins and 3 losses. They made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.

Over his seven years with the Patriots, Mike made 28 interceptions. He also gained 1,159 yards on 111 punt returns. This was an average of 10.4 yards per return. He started his career by playing in 58 games in a row. He was a key player for the Patriots.

In 1994, Mike Haynes was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 40, was also retired. This means no other Patriots player will wear that number. He was named to the Patriots' All-1970s Team. He was also on their 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams.

Joining the Los Angeles Raiders

In 1983, Mike Haynes joined the Los Angeles Raiders. He played the last five regular season games with them. He then started in the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII victory. In that game, he had one interception and two pass breakups.

He teamed up with another great cornerback, Lester Hayes. Together, they were known as one of the best cornerback duos in NFL history. The Raiders' general manager, Bobby Beathard, said Mike's arrival made the team much stronger. Having two top cornerbacks like Mike and Lester was a huge advantage.

In his seven seasons with the Raiders, Mike made 18 more interceptions. This brought his career total to 46 interceptions. He returned these for 688 yards and two touchdowns. One of his touchdowns was a team-record 97-yard return against the Miami Dolphins in 1984. He also recovered 12 fumbles in his career.

Mike was chosen as an All-Pro player in 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984, and 1985. He was also an All-AFC pick eight times. In 1997, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is considered one of the greatest football players of all time.

Family Life

Mike Haynes has a nephew named Justin Bibbs. Justin is also an athlete and plays basketball.