"Bullet" Bob Hayes finally gets his due

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame finally rectified a wrong. Bob Hayes, known as the Bullet, the Dallas Cowboys WR who basically created the zone defense with his speed, was elected to the Hall of Fame.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL Draft, taking a chance an Olympic sprinter with unrefined football skills could excel as a wide receiver. The bet paid off, due to his amazing feats as a receiver, Hayes has been credited by many with forcing the way the rest of the NFL conducted pass defense (see zone defense below). His first two seasons were most successful, during which he led the NFL both times in receiving touchdowns.

In 1966 when the Cowboys played at Washington, Hayes caught nine passes for 246 yards. Earlier that same season he caught six passes for 195 yards against the Giants at the Cotton Bowl. Hayes' speed forced other teams to develop the zone defense since no single player could keep up with him. By spreading the defense out in order to contain Hayes, it allowed the Cowboys running game, with players like Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas to flourish. Hayes returned punts for the Cowboys and was the NFL's leading punt returner in 1968 with a 20.8 yards per return average and two touchdowns including a 90 yarder against Pittsburgh. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times. He helped Dallas win five Eastern Conference titles, two NFC titles, played in two Super Bowls, and was instrumental in Dallas' first ever Super Bowl victory in 1971, making Hayes the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.