April 23, 2007
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -
Former Sun Devil football great Mike Haynes was one of three NFL legends honored by the NFL Alumni at its Evening With the Legends Dinner, held Friday, April 20 as the highlight of the 2007 Annual Meeting and Super Bowl of Golf XXVII at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Joining Haynes were Sonny Jurgensen and Jack Youngblood, who were inducted by the NFL Alumni into its Order of the Leather Helmet for significant contributions to pro football, while Haynes was presented with its Career Achievement Award.
A two-time All-American defensive back at , Haynes also earned All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors three times. Additionally, he stands as one of only 12 consensus All-Americans in Sun Devil history, earning such accolades as a star among head coach Frank Kush's 1975 squad which finished the season with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Nebraska and a No. 2 national ranking, capping off the Sun Devils' perfect, 12-0 record. Haynes also led the Sun Devils with 11 interceptions in 1974, second-most in school history while also serving as ASU's top kickoff returner during the 1974 and '75 seasons.
A member of the Arizona State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Haynes had his No. 40 jersey retired at Sun Devil Stadium during ASU's game against USC on Nov. 4, 2000.
After his stellar career with the Sun Devils, Haynes was drafted by the New England Patriots as the fifth-overall pick of the 1976 NFL draft. He started every game as a rookie, recording eight interceptions and excelling as a punt returner. His play earned him honors as the AFC Rookie of the Year.
Haynes complemented exceptional size and reach with tremendous confidence and speed. He also developed a reputation as a "thinking man's" cornerback, and NFL offenses soon conceded Haynes his half of the field.
In 1983, the Oakland Raiders gave up first- and second-round draft picks in an unprecedented mid-season trade for Haynes. He and Lester Hayes formed the NFL's most intimidating cornerback tandem. In Super Bowl XVIII, they held Redskin receivers Art Monk and Charlie Brown to just four catches, and Haynes recorded an interception in 's 38-9 championship blowout.
The following season, Haynes picked off six passes and led the league with 220 interception-return yards. He was widely acknowledged as the NFL's best cover corner and ultimately earned nine Pro Bowl invitations. He retired with 46 career interceptions and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
In the decade after his NFL career, Haynes helped Callaway Golf Co., become one of sport's most recognizable brands, first as Global Licensing Manager, then as Vice President of Recreational Golf Development.
In March 2002, Haynes was named NFL Vice President of Player and Employee Development. In this capacity, he is charged with overseeing numerous programs designed to help NFL players with their off-field lives.