Monday, 02 June 2025
“Bullet” Bob Hayes
- Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2025
- Sport(s): Football, Track & Field
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Statistics:
1 Super Bowl Championship (1971)
2 First Team All-Pro Selections (1966 & 1968)
3 Pro Bowls (1965, 1966 & 1967)
2-Time Touchdown Reception Leader (1965 & 1966)
371 Receptions
7,414 Receiving Yards
71 Receiving Touchdowns
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame
Member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Member of the Florida A&M Hall of Fame
1 100 m Olympic Gold Medal (1964)
1 4x100 m Olympic Gold Medal (1964) -
There have been many two-sport athletes in the United States, but there is only one man who won an Olympic Gold Medal and a Super Bowl.
That man is Bob Hayes.
Running on the track and playing football at Florida A&M, Hayes was a three-time AAU Champion and never lost a 100-meter or 100-yard race during his time competing for the school. Consistently breaking records, Hayes qualified for the Olympics and won the 100 m sprint in Rome, while also anchoring the 4x100 relay team to a win. Two Gold Medals were sweet, but he still had a lot of athletics left in him.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Hayes in the 7th Round that year, and he proved to be a steal. He led the NFL in Receiving Touchdowns in his first two seasons, and his sure hands matched his lightning-quick speed. Hayes would later aid Dallas in winning their first Super Bowl (VI), and his style of play led to the necessity for Defensive Coordinators to create the Zone Defense.
How many athletes were influential and dominant in two sports?
We are proud to nominate “Bullet” Bob Hayes for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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