Highlighted Year: Bob Hayes, 1965

Split End, Dallas Cowboys

Age: 23 (Dec. 20)

1^st season in pro football

College: Florida A & M

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

A world class sprinter, Hayes first achieved fame for setting a world record of 9.1 seconds in the 100-yard dash. He also set an Olympic record in winning the 100-meter dash in the 1964 Tokyo Games. He also won gold by anchoring the successful US effort in the 4X 100-meter relay. The recipient of a football scholarship to attend Florida A & M was chosen as a future pick by the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL draft  (the Denver Broncos picked him in the 14^th round of the corresponding AFL draft). While he was a raw talent who needed to develop technique to complement his great speed, “Bullet Bob” moved into the starting lineup as a rookie.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 13 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 46 [13]          

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 177 yds.) vs. Philadelphia 10/10

Yards – 1003 [4]

Most yards, game – 177 (on 8 catches) vs. Philadelphia 10/10

Average gain – 21.8 [3]

TDs – 12 [1, tied with Dave Parks]

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 4

Yards – -8

Average gain – -2.0

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 17

Yards – 450 [16]

Most yards, game – 128 (on 4 ret.) vs. San Francisco 11/7

Average per return – 26.5 [6]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 66 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 12 [15]

Yards – 153 [8]

Most yards, game – 47 (on 1 ret.) vs. Philadelphia 10/10

Average per return – 12.8

TDs – 0

Longest return – 47 yards

All-purpose yards – 1598 [4]

Scoring

TDs – 13 [3]

Points – 78 [11]

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: UPI

1^st team All-Eastern Conference: Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Cowboys went 7-7 second in the NFL Eastern Conference (tied with the New York Giants.  

Aftermath:

Hayes followed up by catching 64 passes for 1232 yards (19.3 avg.) and a league-leading 13 TDs in 1966 and was again selected to the Pro Bowl as well as receiving first-team All-NFL recognition from the Pro FootballWriters, NEA and the Associated Press. He went on to spend ten seasons eith the Cowboys. In addition to being a productive receiver that opposing defenses had to account for, “Bullet Bob was also a fine kick returner who led the league with a 20.8 punt return average in 1968.Overall with Dallas Hayes had 365 pass receptions for 7295 yards (20.0 avg.) and 71 touchdowns. In addition he returned 104 punts for an 11.1-yard average and three TDs and 23 kickoffs with a 25.3-yard average.He caught another 31 passes for 492 yards (15.9 avg.) in 15 playoff games that included two touchdowns. Hayes was traded to San Francisco in 1975 but was released after catching just six passes for119 yards,thus ending his career. He received first or second team All-NFL honors after four seasons and was selected to three Pro Bowls. Hayes was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2009.

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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

1965: Cowboys Rally in Fourth Quarter to Defeat Steelers

On November 14, 1965 the struggling Dallas Cowboys hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had beaten them two weeks previously. In their sixth season under Head Coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys had started the season with two big wins before dropping five consecutive games, finally breaking the streak with a win over the 49ers the previous week to be at 3-5. At the center of the storm was QB Don Meredith (pictured above), who had a bad elbow and delivered uneven performances, and was challenged by backups Jerry Rhome and Craig Morton. The running game lacked outside speed but rookie split end Bob Hayes provided plenty of that for the passing game and was one of several promising young players on the roster.

Pittsburgh’s season had gotten off to a bad start two weeks before it started when Head Coach Buddy Parker abruptly quit. Mike Nixon took his place and the team lost its first five games. Veteran FB John Henry Johnson went down with a knee injury, 37-year-old QB Ed Brown was ineffectual, and his young replacement, QB Bill Nelsen, was hampered by a bad knee. While the Steelers won two straight games, they were coming off of a loss the previous week and had a 2-6 record coming into Dallas.

A big crowd of 57,923 was in attendance at the Cotton Bowl on a warm afternoon. The fans booed Don Meredith during pregame introductions and he was a target of disaffection for much of the contest. The Steelers got the first break when safety Willie Daniel intercepted a Meredith pass and returned it nine yards to the Dallas 44. In a drive that took seven plays, HB Dick Hoak carried for the last three, gaining eight and five yards before scoring on a three-yard touchdown. Mike Clark added the extra point.

Bob Hayes returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the Dallas 43 and the Cowboys took eight plays to advance the remaining distance. Meredith rolled out and threw to split end Frank Clarke in the left corner of the end zone for a one-yard TD and Danny Villanueva’s kick tied the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter, a promising Dallas series ended with an interception by DB Bob Sherman. The Steelers had to punt, with Frank Lambert’s kick sailing into the end zone for a touchback, and this time the Cowboys didn’t turn the ball over. Meredith completed passes to Hayes, FB Don Perkins, and rookie HB Dan Reeves to reach the Pittsburgh 13, but the advance stalled there and the home team settled for a 33-yard field goal by Villanueva to move ahead by 10-7.

The teams settled into a stalemate until late in the period. Bill Nelsen threw deep to split end Roy Jefferson for a gain of 45 yards and he nearly went farther before being tripped up by safety Obert Logan at the Dallas 21. Nelsen followed up with another completion, this time to flanker Gary Ballman at the two. Rolling to his left on the next play, the quarterback overthrew FB Mike Lind, who was open in the end zone, but the Cowboys were called for an offside penalty and the ball was placed at the one. Nelsen twice tried to sneak across the goal line but was stopped, and on fourth down Hoak was held to no gain.

Dallas was forced to punt on the ensuing series and safety Clendon Thomas, calling for a fair catch, muffed the kick and DB Don Bishop recovered for the Cowboys at the Pittsburgh 41. But the score remained unchanged at halftime when Villanueva’s 46-yard field goal attempt sailed to the right.

Pittsburgh had the first possession in the third quarter and drove to a 32-yard field goal by Clark that tied the score at 10-10. Late in the period, the Steelers’ punt return unit made a big play when Hayes fumbled a kick by Lambert and TE Lee Folkins, an ex-Cowboy, grabbed the bouncing ball and ran 18 yards for a touchdown. Clark added the PAT and the Steelers were ahead by 17-10.

In the fourth quarter, a Nelsen pass was picked off by CB Cornell Green at the Dallas 49. The Cowboys advanced 51 yards in five plays, the biggest a Meredith pass to Reeves that gained 47 yards. Reeves ran the last two yards for a TD and Villanueva knotted the score once again at 17-17.

Another interception of a Nelsen pass, this time by safety Mel Renfro, gave the Cowboys the ball once more near midfield, but Meredith fumbled when hit from behind and Pittsburgh LB John Campbell picked up the loose ball and ran to the Dallas 28. Helped by a penalty on the defense, the Steelers moved to the 17 with Ed Brown now in the game at quarterback. But Brown, throwing toward Jefferson near the goal line, gave up an interception to Logan instead.

The Steelers got another shot with less than three minutes remaining to play, and the result was yet another interception, this time by LB Dave Edwards. After HB Perry Lee Dunn ran for four yards to the Pittsburgh 28 just prior to the two-minute warning, Meredith connected with Hayes, who caught the ball at the 12 and broke away from CB Brady Keys for a 28-yard touchdown. Villanueva converted and the Cowboys won by a final score of 24-17.

Dallas had the lead in total yards (341 to 197) and first downs (15 to 12). The Steelers, who gained just 50 yards on the ground, hurt themselves with six turnovers, five of which were interceptions, although the Cowboys turned the ball over five times. Both teams recorded four sacks apiece.

Don Meredith completed 14 of 31 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns while being intercepted twice. Bob Hayes (pictured below) accounted for 5 catches for 95 yards and the game-winning TD. Perry Lee Dunn led the club with 47 rushing yards on 13 carries and added another 26 on two pass receptions. Dan Reeves ran for just 10 yards on 6 carries but gained 73 yards on three catches.

For the Steelers, Bill Nelsen was successful on 11 of 25 throws for 172 yards with no TDs and two were picked off. Ed Brown had no completions in four attempts, three of which were intercepted. Roy Jefferson had a big performance by catching four passes for 108 yards. Mike Lind led the rushers with 26 yards on 9 attempts and had four pass receptions for 25 yards.

The win put the Cowboys in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference at 4-5 and, while they lost their next two games, they finished strong with three victories to tie for second with the Giants in the Eastern Conference at 7-7, their first non-losing record. It set the stage for a first place showing in ’66. As for the Steelers, they failed to win again the rest of the way, typically being blown out as they ended up in the conference’s basement after compiling a 2-12 tally.

Don Meredith completed only 46.2 percent of his passes due to his slow start, but ended up throwing for 2415 yards and 22 touchdowns as adjustments to the offense allowed him to utilize his mobility to better effect. Bob Hayes had 46 catches for 1003 yards (21.8 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl.

1971: Cowboys Defeat Turnover-Prone Vikings in NFC Divisional Playoff Game

The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, champions of their respective divisions with identical 11-3 records, met in a Christmas Day NFC Divisional Playoff game on December 25, 1971.

The Cowboys had gotten off to a slow start and were 4-3 at midseason, but Head Coach Tom Landry’s team won seven straight games to close out the regular season and top the NFC East once the ongoing quarterback controversy between Roger Staubach (pictured at right) and Craig Morton was resolved in Staubach’s favor. RB Duane Thomas led a good group of backs and WR Lance Alworth, obtained from the Chargers, proved to be a valuable addition to the passing game across from WR Bob Hayes. The defense was outstanding from front to back and contained Pro Bowlers in DT Bob Lilly, LB Chuck Howley, CB Mel Renfro, and SS Cornell Green.

Minnesota, coached by Bud Grant, had a superb defense, starting with the line anchored by DE Carl Eller and DT Alan Page. The stodgy offense was another story. QB Gary Cuozzo did not provide the necessary spark, Norm Snead, obtained from the Eagles the previous offseason, did little, and now it was Bob Lee, also the punter, behind center. WR Bob Grim was selected to the Pro Bowl, and the running backs were dependable but unspectacular. The Vikings had easily topped the NFC Central Division.

There were 49,100 fans in attendance at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota on a 30-degree day with a light rain falling. The Cowboys started out conservatively while Minnesota came out throwing on offense. Early in the first quarter, Dallas got the first break when DE Larry Cole forced HB Dave Osborn to lose the ball at his own 36 and DT Jethro Pugh recovered for the Cowboys. After reaching the Minnesota 19, with the key play a third down pass from Roger Staubach to Bob Hayes for 18 yards after a penalty had backed Dallas up, and following an Alan Page sack of Staubach for a five-yard loss, Mike Clark kicked a 26-yard field goal.

A promising series for the Vikings that started at the Dallas 48 ended with a 27-yard Fred Cox field goal after a third-down pass to RB Jim Lindsey, in which the receiver nearly made a shoestring catch that would have been good for a first down inside the ten, was ruled incomplete.

In the second quarter, the Vikings came through with a big play when Lee threw to Bob Grim (pictured at left) for a 49-yard gain in a third down situation to the Dallas 29. However, Chuck Howley intercepted another Lee pass, returning it to the Minnesota 37 to set up a 44-yard Clark field goal that barely made it over the crossbar.

HB Clint Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards, nearly going the distance but being stopped by Mel Renfro. The Vikings came up empty when three incomplete passes were followed by a Cox field goal attempt from 42 yards that was unsuccessful. The score remained 6-3 in favor of Dallas at the half.

The Cowboys took control in the third quarter. On the third play, an interception by FS Cliff Harris (pictured below) at the Minnesota 43 was returned 30 yards to the 13 and that set up a touchdown carry on the next play by Duane Thomas. Clark added the extra point to put the visitors ahead by ten points.

CB Charlie West returned the next kickoff 51 yards to give the Vikings good starting field position at the Dallas 42, with Renfro once again making the stop. However, Minnesota was unable to gain much ground and a field goal attempt by Cox from 46 yards hit the right upright and was no good.

Later in the period, the Cowboys put together a 52-yard series following a 24-yard punt return by DB Charlie Waters. Staubach threw to Lance Alworth for 30 yards on a third-and-15 play and then, scrambling to avoid the strong pass rush, he connected with Hayes for a nine-yard TD and, with Clark again converting, the Cowboys led by an insurmountable 20-3 margin.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings scored when Page sacked Staubach in the end zone for a safety. At that point Gary Cuozzo replaced Lee at quarterback, and on the next series he completed passes to WR Gene Washington and TE Stu Voigt to get the Vikings to the Dallas 19. But a throw to Grim passed through the receiver’s hands and MLB Lee Roy Jordan intercepted to blunt the threat.

Late in the game, the Vikings mounted a drive that concluded with Cuozzo throwing to Voigt for a six-yard touchdown, but there were barely more than two minutes remaining to play and the outcome had long since been decided. The Cowboys came away winners by a final score of 20-12.

The Vikings significantly outgained Dallas (311 yards to 183) and had more first downs (17 to 10). However, Minnesota also turned the ball over five times, to none by the Cowboys, and that was the difference in the outcome.

Roger Staubach was efficient as he completed 10 of 14 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Duane Thomas rushed for 66 yards on 21 carries that included a TD. Bob Hayes (pictured at left) had three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown and Lance Alworth gained 33 yards on his two receptions.

For the Vikings, Bob Lee was successful on only 7 of 16 throws for 86 yards and no TDs while giving up two interceptions. Gary Cuozzo went 12-of-22 for 124 yards and a touchdown but also was picked off twice. Gene Washington caught 5 passes for 70 yards and Bob Grim gained 74 yards on his four receptions while Stu Voigt contributed four catches for 46 yards and the team’s only TD. Clint Jones gained 52 yards on 15 rushing attempts.

“We haven’t been making mistakes the last eight games,” said Coach Landry regarding the Cowboys. “This was our best defensive performance of the year.”

“There were a lot of big plays,” added Cliff Harris. “We broke their drives. Every time they seemed to get momentum, we had a turnaround.”

Dallas went on to defeat the 49ers in the NFC Championship game and then Miami in Super Bowl VI. The Vikings, who sought to resolve their quarterback issue by swinging a deal with the Giants to bring Fran Tarkenton back to the team that he began his pro career with, dropped to 7-7 and placed third in the NFC Central. They rebounded in 1973 to beat the Cowboys for the NFC Championship, losing the Super Bowl to the Dolphins.

1966: Hayes & Cowboys Overcome Taylor & Redskins in Aerial Shootout

Over the years, the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins has produced many exciting games. One of those contests – and one in which two of the best pass receivers of the era excelled – occurred on November 13, 1966 at DC Stadium.

The Cowboys, in their seventh season of existence, had been steadily developing talent and were now contenders for the first time. Head Coach Tom Landry had built his reputation as a defensive innovator, and the unit built around DT Bob Lilly, DE George Andrie, CB Cornell Green, FS Mel Renfro, and linebackers Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan was a strong one. However, Dallas also featured an explosive offense led by QB Don Meredith. While the running of FB Don Perkins and HB Dan Reeves was productive, the presence of second-year split end Bob Hayes (pictured above), former Olympic champion in the 100 meter dash, gave the Cowboys an outstanding deep threat. They came into the game at Washington with a 5-2-1 record.


Washington had not had a winning season in eleven years and was under the direction of a new head coach, former all-time great quarterback Otto Graham. Graham chose to emphasize the pass, and with QB Sonny Jurgensen (pictured at left) and a receiving corps of split end Charley Taylor (converted during the season from running halfback), flanker Bobby Mitchell, and TE Jerry Smith, he could do so. However, there wasn’t much of a running game, and the defense was highly suspect. The Redskins were 5-4 coming into the game.

The score was 7-6 after the first quarter as Washington’s Charlie Gogolak kicked field goals of 35 and 33 yards and, in between, the Cowboys got a touchdown on a one-yard run by Meredith. Neither offense was able to make any big plays.

That changed in the second quarter when Meredith connected with Hayes for a 52-yard touchdown. The Cowboys defense continued to stifle the Washington offense and Dallas took a 14-6 lead into halftime.

The score was 21-6 early in the third quarter when Meredith passed to the speedy Hayes for a 95-yard TD. But it took the Redskins just three plays to come back with a touchdown of their own. Jurgensen completed passes of 11 yards to HB Joe Don Looney, 30 yards to Taylor, and then four yards for the score to Smith.

A few minutes later, Jurgensen tossed a long pass that Taylor gathered in at the Washington 35. Fighting off Dallas defenders, the ex-halfback ran the ball the rest of the way for a 78-yard touchdown. The Redskins were now down by just a point.

The defense came up with a big play as LB Sam Huff recovered a Dallas fumble at the Washington 20; the Redskins drove to an 11-yard field goal by Gogolak that put them ahead 23-20, still in the third period.

The Cowboys surged back, driving 59 yards with HB Dan Reeves plunging the last yard for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. However, Taylor put the Redskins back in front with a diving catch of an 18-yard pass from Jurgensen with 5:36 left on the clock.

Dallas was unable to score as time ran down, but Washington was unable to run out the clock. Still, Pat Richter’s punt was downed at the Cowboys’ three yard line by Jerry Smith and the situation didn’t look promising for Dallas with a minute left and no timeouts.

Washington went to a three-man rush in an effort to prevent long passes, but on the first play Meredith connected with flanker Pete Gent for a 26-yard gain. Rolling out on first-and-ten at his own 29, the quarterback took off on a 12-yard run before stepping out of bounds. After an incomplete pass followed by a one-yard completion, Meredith went to Gent again on third-and-nine, picking up 25 yards to the Redskins’ 33.

On first down, Meredith scrambled and was chased out of bounds after running six yards, where a late hit by LB John Reger gave the Cowboys an extra 15 yards to the Washington 12. With 16 seconds left, Danny Villanueva kicked a 20-yard field goal and Dallas came away with a 31-30 win.

The Cowboys piled up 515 total yards to 341 for the Redskins – however, while Dallas gained 132 yards on the ground, Washington’s running attack accounted for just 23 yards on 16 attempts.

Don Meredith completed 21 of 29 passes for 406 yards (second most of his career) with the two long touchdowns against one interception; he also ran for 32 yards on six carries. Bob Hayes had a huge performance, catching 9 passes for 246 yards and both TDs. Dan Reeves led the Cowboys in rushing with 59 yards on 13 carries, followed by Don Perkins, who ran the ball 15 times and gained 41 yards.


The Redskins had some significant performances of their own in the loss. Sonny Jurgensen was successful on 26 of 46 throws for 347 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions (the Redskins suffered no turnovers). Charley Taylor (pictured at right) had 11 pass receptions for 199 yards with two scores – his big day was trumped by Hayes’ spectacular showing. HB A.D. Whitfield led the anemic running game with 17 yards on 7 attempts.

Dallas went 4-1 the rest of the way – losing another hard-fought game to the Redskins in the rematch at the Cotton Bowl – to finish at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 10-3-1 record. They lost to Green Bay in the NFL title game. Washington broke even at 7-7 to place fifth in the eight-team conference.

Bob Hayes had career-highs in pass receptions (64), yards (1232), and touchdowns (a league-leading 13). His 246 receiving yards against the Redskins remained the club record until 2009. A consensus first-team All-NFL choice, he also was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second of four straight seasons.

Charley Taylor, making the transition to wide receiver in his third season, led the NFL with 72 pass receptions. His 1119 yards and 12 touchdowns (he added three more rushing) were high marks for his career.


Don Meredith (pictured at left) achieved career-highs in passing yards (2805) and TD passes (24). He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first of an eventual three straight times to close out his career.

Sonny Jurgensen led the NFL in pass attempts (436), completions (254), and yards (3209). His 28 touchdown passes ranked second. He went to the Pro Bowl for the third of an eventual five times.