How “Bullet Bob” Hayes changed the way the NFL values speed

The only man in the world to win both a Super Bowl & an Olympic Gold Medal; the original number 22

Bob Hayes was a highly recruited athlete and accepted a football scholarship from Florida A&M University, a historically black college, where he excelled in track and field.

Black History Month

At the beginning of the month, I shared a REEL I created on CANVA on Bob Hayes for Black History Month. As we approach the NFL Draft this April it's important to know how the Cowboys changed the game when it came to drafting speed among NFL players.

In addition, I shared this same video on my YouTube channel. It is embedded below for your viewing pleasure here today. Bob Hayes is the only man who has ever won both a Super Bowl and an Olympic Gold Medal.

Born in Jacksonville, FL you could imagine how he eventually earned the nickname “Bullet Bob.” The Cowboys selected Hayes in the seventh round (88th overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over, taking a chance that the Olympic sprinter with unrefined football skills could excel as a wide receiver.

Hayes’ first two seasons were most successful, during which he led the NFL both times in receiving touchdowns with 12 and 13 touchdowns, respectively. On August 8, 2009, Hayes was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of…