Age: 30
9th
season in pro football, 3rd with Cowboys
College: James
Madison
Height: 6’5” Weight: 250
Prelude:
Haley
excelled as an inside linebacker in college before moving to the outside as a
senior in 1985. He was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of
the 1986 NFL draft and was used as a defensive end in pass rushing situations,
accumulating a team-leading 12 sacks as a rookie. Haley moved into a starting
role at left outside linebacker in 1988 and was selected to the Pro Bowl after
recording 11.5 sacks. Able to shift from linebacker to pass-rushing defensive
end as needed, he used his size and speed to great advantage and reached double
figures in sacks in three straight seasons, with a career-high 16 in 1990 when
he was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection. He was also selected to the
Pro Bowl that year and again in ’91, although plagued by injuries. However, due
to clashes with the coaches, Haley was dealt to the Cowboys just prior to the
1992 season. Inserted at right defensive end, his sack total dropped to six but
his presence improved the overall line play as Dallas won a NFL Championship.
Haley had a lesser season in ’93 due to a ruptured disc that required
off-season surgery.
1994 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 12.5
[4, tied with Leslie O’Neal]
Most sacks,
game – 4 at Pittsburgh 9/4
Multi-sack
games – 2
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 1
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Forced
fumbles – 3
Tackles – 42
Assists – 9
Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Cowboys went 12-4
to finish first in the NFC East while leading the NFL in fewest passing yards
allowed (2752) and fewest overall yards allowed (4313) and the NFC in sacks
(47) and fewest points allowed (248). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Green Bay
Packers (35-9). Lost NFC Championship to San Francisco 49ers (38-28).
Aftermath:
Haley
initially announced his retirement following the 1994 season but was persuaded
to return in ’95 and had one last Pro Bowl season with 10.5 sacks. There were further
injuries, however, cutting short his 1996 season, and he was away from the game
for nearly two years until returning to the 49ers for the postseason in 1998.
Haley stayed on to play one last year with the club in 1999 before retiring for
good. Overall, he accumulated 100.5 sacks, 34 of which came with the Cowboys,
and reached double figures six times. Haley also added 11 more sacks in the
postseason and appeared with five Super Bowl-winning teams. He was a consensus
first-team All-NFL choice twice, received first- or second-team All-NFC honors
after two other seasons, and was chosen to five Pro Bowls. Haley was inducted
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
