CANTON, Ohio – "Bullet" Bob Hayes hated his reputation as a track star who played football. He reminded anyone who would listen that he had been a football player first at Florida A&M University.Hayes, of course, will always be remembered for his title as World's Fastest Human after winning two gold medals as a sprinter in the 1964 Olympic Games. On Saturday, his NFL greatness as a wide receiver was recognized when Hayes was immortalized posthumously as a Pro Football Hall of Fame legend, member of the Class of 2009.
The former Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers star remains the only man to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal, and is the second gold medalist in the Hall of Fame, following Jim Thorpe.
Hayes' entry, as a senior candidate following years of controversial failure to win election by the Hall of Fame selection committee, was considered long overdue by his family and many in the NFL. Hayes' incredible speed and his unique talents, after all, are largely credited as the reason why teams went to bump-and-run defenses.
Hayes nearly made the Hall of Fame cut in 2004, but he failed to make it past the final round of voting -- angering many of his staunchest supporters, including famed Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman.
Why did it take so long? Was it Hayes' football reputation as a one-dimensional speed receiver, punt returner and decoy? His Cowboys' status? Or was it Hayes' history of legal problems and drug abuse, an off-field factor that Hall of Fame selectors are instructed not to consider? All of that was forgotten Saturday, along with Hayes' myriad of personal struggles and his many debilitating health problems, including prostate cancer and the kidney disease that ultimately claimed his life on Sept. 18, 2002 at the age of 59.
"In his last days he used to talk about the Hall of Fame," said his son, Bob Hayes Jr, who introduced his father's speaker, Roger Staubach. "It hurts because he should have been here to witness this special occasion. But unfortunately, he didn't make it to see it."
Staubach was Hayes' quarterback on the Cowboys' 1971 championship team that captured Super Bowl VI, and he spoke admirably of a teammate who averaged a touchdown every 5.2 catches during his career – a mark better than even Jerry Rice could muster (7.8 catches per touchdown).
"Bob was lightning fast. So you had to double cover him," said Staubach, who praised Hayes for being a good, humble man and a great teammate. "He was impactful.
"I don't know if he ever showed me his gold medals from the Olympics. He just was a big guy. A great athlete. Faced some challenges. Some a little more than most of us go through. And his family was always there for them. He was always there for them."
Legends Enshrined at Canton
Darrion Thomas, left, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson, right, stand with a bronze bust of Darrion's father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Darrion Thomas, left, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson, right, unveil a bronze bust of Darrion's father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
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Founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills Ralph Wilson Jr., left, kisses his wife, Mary, during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens andOakland Raiders, and his high school friend and business associate Tracy Foster unveil Woodson's bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
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Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders, thanks his brothers during his induction speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
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Bob Hayes, Jr. and Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys unveil the bust of Bob Hayes, of the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, presented during Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
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Darrion Thomas, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, stands with a bust of his father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Class of 2009 members Rod Woodson, left, and Bruce Smith, right, give a congratulatory pat to Darrion Thomas before he unveiled the bust of his father, Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson, center, speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-09-2009 @ 12:41AM
rlbrooks726 said...
It's a disgrace that Bob Hayes wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame while he was still alive. I don't know how those who didn't vote for his selection previously can look at themselves in the mirror.
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8-16-2009 @ 9:59PM
kawieboy said...
I'm happy for Bullet Bob and his family that he finally got what he earned decades ago. I can't think of any other athlete that got a worse deal than Bob. The drug bust was a set up by a media slimeball. Tom Landry stood up for him and tried to get him out of jail, and anyone knows that Landry would have never stood up for anyone that wasn't a good person. Bob Hayes is the reason zone defense was invented. No player on earth could cover him in man to man. As a kid I watched him play in Texas Stadium and when my dad was in the Air Force, he got to see him in the Tokyo Olympics. I remember him signing autographs at the grand opening of a sporting goods store in my home town in Central Texas.
The Hall of Fame is a complete SHAM if they could keep Bob Hayes out for this long and let Mr. Cocaine Lawrence Taylor in as soon as he was eligible. But I'm still happy for Bob and his family. It's a true pity that he died penniless with the lousy rap he got. Rest in Peace Bob Hayes.
8-09-2009 @ 1:01AM
Gerry said...
its about time! the selectors should be ashamed that it took so long others have done worse than mr hayes and were elected. His numbers were awesome just count myself extremely lucky to have seen him play. All these so called stars at WR should see film of Bullet Bob Hayes doing work. RIP you finally made it!
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8-09-2009 @ 1:05AM
mccown10 said...
It's about time!! A great day for Football fans. Dallas and the Hayes family. As a kid I used to watch him play. His speed changed the way football is played today.Selection into the Hall it's about time!!!!!
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8-09-2009 @ 2:50AM
The Great Raider said...
Bob Hayes - all feet and no hands. Teams didn't need to cover him too closely, he couldn't catch the ball anyway. Hall of Fame? There are truly great players out there who do deserve to get in, so stop wasting spots for no-goes like Hayes.
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8-09-2009 @ 11:39AM
Steve! said...
Uh...he couldn't catch?... hmmm... a touchdown for every 5.2 catches... better average than Jerry Rice. I'd say he was not only fast, but a great receiver. It's about time he made the Hall of Fame.
8-09-2009 @ 12:51PM
Kenny said...
Jealous much? Which of those sorry-ass track star Raiders has an average of a touchdown every 5.2 catches? James Jett? Nope. HE CHANGED the way the GAME was PLAYED! Deal with it. He's in. And it's about time.
8-09-2009 @ 3:13PM
burkoburk1 said...
you are not completely correct. he was the fastest athelete alive-and-he did not catch every pass he should have-however he did catch more touchdowns per pass than jerry rice. bob hayes would burn you-not every time-but-he would burn you. the cowboys could have got rid of him-but-they did not, ever wonder why?
8-09-2009 @ 3:49PM
nabpdcop said...
Must be a COWBOY HATER. Get over it PLEASE. The man was a CLASS ACT. No one, and I repeat NO ONE could cover him at the time. They let a drunk sleeping at a stop light BRUCE SMITH in!!! Why not one of the best receivers? THANK YOU. Now shut your damm PIE HOLE.
8-09-2009 @ 6:17AM
tbr3guys said...
'great raider'...go sit in the corner and be quiet. an amazing athlete has been honored posthumously. those who saw him play, and who played with/against him have made their say. don't dishonor him, his family or his peers with your thoughtless commentary.
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8-09-2009 @ 9:49AM
Leroy and Beverl said...
As a Washington Redskin fan, I remember well the speed and agility of this great man. He would strike fear in the hearts of the opposing teams and fans whenever he headed down the sidelines , waiting for a pass from
Staubach.I have great memories of the games featuring Bob Hayes and on the Redskins side Charlie Taylor. Let it be known that he was a great player.
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8-09-2009 @ 10:46AM
rjbigun said...
thank you leroy,as a true cowboy fan,it means alot when a redskin fan will say something nice about a cowboy,i do thank you.bullet bob made cowboy football exciting!!!!
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8-09-2009 @ 11:23AM
Debra said...
It makes me sick when I think of the hypocrisy of the NFL Hall of Fame selection committee! NOTHING Bob Hayes every did AFTER his career should have mattered, at least not what Bob did.
He should have been chosen in the FIRST year of eligibility. To think of all the years he waited, even while sick, thinking this would be HIS YEAR. Well, it is heartbreaking. I don't blame his family for being upset.
Bob should have accepted this honor. They need new Hall of Fame Voters. Those with a stick up their asses need to be GONE or this will continue to happen.
Bless you Bob. Bless you for every thrilling moment on the field you gave this football fan...this Cowboy Fan. Tom Landry should have been there.....
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8-09-2009 @ 11:38AM
santcs11 said...
Re Bob Hayes, its about time, its amazing that all these little weenie sportwriters who were the ones who no one would pick on side playing ball as kids- get their revenge on great players by holding them out of the Hall of Fame on a whim. They need to change the voting for the Hall of Fame so the players peers get a say
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8-09-2009 @ 12:57PM
mauimaui2 said...
Its about time Bobby made the hall of fame!!!My dad use to say (who has passed on now) that Bobby Hays was so fast that, he (Bobby Hays)was so fast that he could turn out the lights and be in his bed before the room got dark!!!THANK YOU for the best of times Bobby
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8-09-2009 @ 1:14PM
rrr said...
I saw him play when I was a kid, and living in Texas was a true Cowboy FANATIC...Bob Hayes was AMAZING to watch and an inspiration to kids everywhere. I like most other fans of the 'boys cried like a baby after the "Ice Bowl" against GB...what a game! I no longer am a FANATIC for them after JJ started his rampage of nobody coaches and a black cocaine QB who isn't even in football any longer. No respect from a former fan...
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8-09-2009 @ 6:07PM
DeepVoiceM4f said...
I saw this athlete kick butt on TV when he won the 100s in 1964. They said that because he was pigeon-toed, his big toes would bleed from all the power his running would engender. But for the one hater this is a feel-good, posthumous story. RIP Mr. Hayes
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8-10-2009 @ 4:02AM
jessemolson48 said...
wow, am sadden ,someone said number 22 was dead,i think the nfl needs to come up with a different policy as electing players to the hall of fame, 22 deserved to have been alive for this moment,i just hope baseball wont make the same mistake with pete rose
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