After more than a quarter century of eligibility, Dallas Cowboys great Bob Hayes has been elected to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sadly, the news has come over six years after his death.
Hayes played for the Cowboys from 1965-1974 and played his final season in the NFL, 1975, with the San Francisco 49ers. In his eleven seasons he caught 371 passes for 7414 yards and 71 touchdowns.
Though his numbers are not gawdy by todays standards, Hayes is considered to have changed the way the position of wide receiver is played. His world class speed forced opposing defenses to incorporate a zone defense in attempts to cover him. They also started using the bump and run to try and slow him down.
In his college years Bob Hayes was considered the fastest man in the world by virtue of his gold medal performance in the 100 meters in Tokyo at the 1964 Olympics. He also held the world record at different times in the 60 yard dash, 100 yard dash, 220 yard dash and the Olympic 100 meter dash.
The day after his election Lucille Hester, Bob’s sister, read a letter he had drafted before his death. In hopes that some day he would be elected he wanted to “thank everyone in the whole world.”
