March 15, 2017

Highlighted Year: Bob Hayes, 1965

Split End, Dallas Cowboys





Age: 23 (Dec. 20)
1st season in pro football
College: Florida A & M
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:
A world class sprinter, Hayes first achieved fame for setting a world record of 9.1 seconds in the 100-yard dash. He also set an Olympic record in winning the 100-meter dash in the 1964 Tokyo Games. He also won gold by anchoring the successful US effort in the 4X 100-meter relay. The recipient of a football scholarship to attend Florida A & M was chosen as a future pick by the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL draft  (the Denver Broncos picked him in the 14th round of the corresponding AFL draft). While he was a raw talent who needed to develop technique to complement his great speed, “Bullet Bob” moved into the starting lineup as a rookie.


1965 Season Summary
Appeared in 13 of 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 46 [13]          
Most receptions, game – 8 (for 177 yds.) vs. Philadelphia 10/10
Yards – 1003 [4]
Most yards, game – 177 (on 8 catches) vs. Philadelphia 10/10
Average gain – 21.8 [3]
TDs – 12 [1, tied with Dave Parks]
100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing
Attempts – 4
Yards – -8
Average gain – -2.0
TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 17
Yards – 450 [16]
Most yards, game – 128 (on 4 ret.) vs. San Francisco 11/7
Average per return – 26.5 [6]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 66 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 12 [15]
Yards – 153 [8]
Most yards, game – 47 (on 1 ret.) vs. Philadelphia 10/10
Average per return – 12.8
TDs – 0
Longest return – 47 yards

All-purpose yards – 1598 [4]

Scoring
TDs – 13 [3]
Points – 78 [11]

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFL: UPI
1st team All-Eastern Conference: Sporting News
Pro Bowl

Cowboys went 7-7 second in the NFL Eastern Conference (tied with the New York Giants.  

Aftermath:
Hayes followed up by catching 64 passes for 1232 yards (19.3 avg.) and a league-leading 13 TDs in 1966 and was again selected to the Pro Bowl as well as receiving first-team All-NFL recognition from the Pro FootballWriters, NEA and the Associated Press. He went on to spend ten seasons eith the Cowboys. In addition to being a productive receiver that opposing defenses had to account for, “Bullet Bob was also a fine kick returner who led the league with a 20.8 punt return average in 1968.Overall with Dallas Hayes had 365 pass receptions for 7295 yards (20.0 avg.) and 71 touchdowns. In addition he returned 104 punts for an 11.1-yard average and three TDs and 23 kickoffs with a 25.3-yard average.He caught another 31 passes for 492 yards (15.9 avg.) in 15 playoff games that included two touchdowns. Hayes was traded to San Francisco in 1975 but was released after catching just six passes for119 yards,thus ending his career. He received first or second team All-NFL honors after four seasons and was selected to three Pro Bowls. Hayes was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2009.


--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970