Dallas Cowboys Great Bob Hayes in NFL Hall of Fame

Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor member Bob Hayes was named as a 2009 inductee to the NFL Hall of Fame. Bob Hayes is the only NFL player to win both an Olympic gold medal, and a Super Bowl Ring.

Hayes was almost inducted in 2004, however the conglomeration of stupidity that is the Hall of Fame induction committee failed to let him in, no doubt due to the fact that he was a Dallas Cowboy.

Some have argued that Hayes was undeserving of induction, like this moron. (Quick tip, saying someone doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame, after saying they changed the game of football in the same sentence makes you sound stupid)

A quick review of Bob Hayes’ athletic career will show how stupid that idea was.

Bob Hayes started out his athletic career as an excellent sprinter. He won the NCAA National Championship in the 200-meter dash in 1964, and was later named to the U.S. 1964 Summer Olympics Team.

At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Hayes won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash while tying the world record at 10.0 seconds. He later topped this feat while the anchor of the U.S. 4×100 meter relay team. In a come from behind win, Hayes led the U.S. to gold in the event.

After the 1964 Summer Olympics, Bob Hayes was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. It was thought by many a controversial pick for the Dallas Cowboys however, in his first two seasons in the NFL, Hayes led the league in touchdown receptions.

Bob Hayes had an impressive career in the NFL. With the Dallas Cowboys, Hayes was named to the Pro-Bowl 3 times, won 5 Eastern Conference Titles, 2 NFC Titles, and helped the Dallas Cowboys to their first Super Bowl win, in Super Bowl 6 in 1971.

Even more impressive was the way Hayes revolutionized the game of football. The zone defense was developed because of Bob Hayes. His flat out speed meant no one player could cover him, forcing defenses to double team him, which opened up the field for the Dallas Cowboys run game. While his career began to fade as more teams used the zone and bump-and-run, these schemes were developed in part as a response to him.

Bob Hayes has always belonged in the NFL Hall of Fame. On top of his impressive career, he has won the ultimate prize in two sports. Thank goodness the Hall of Fame Selection Committee finally got this one right.