Is Bob Hayes Living or Dead?

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Is Athletics sprinter and American Football wide receiver Bob Hayes dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Turing Testman

Updated 18 March 2023

Image info

Artist	Florida Memory
Credit	FAMU athlete Robert Hayes practices running on the track: Tallahassee, Florida Uploaded by oaktree_b
License	pd
Desc	Local call number: RC02964 Title: FAMU athlete Robert Hayes practices running on the track: Tallahassee, Florida Date: March 15, 1962 Accompanying note: "Hayes Will Try for World Mark--Florida A & M University's rapid Robert Hayes, who unofficially tied the world mark for the 100-yard dash at 9.2 just a month ago at Miami, tunes up on the track here and will be gunning to lower the official 9.2 record held by Villanova's Frank Budd. Hayes, 19, and a sophomore, will be running Saturday, Mar. 17, on the same track at University of Miami, where he ran his 9.2 and officials there say the track will be even faster as the measured straightway has been groomed daily." Physical descrip: 1 photoprint - b&w - 10 x 8 in. Series Title: Reference collection Repository: State Library and Archives of Florida, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 USA. Contact: 850.245.6700. [email protected] Persistent URL: www.floridamemory.com/items/show/26679 Visit Florida Memory to learn more about the history of college football in Florida. Visit Florida Memory to find resources for Black History Month and to learn about the contributions of African-Americans in Florida history.
Usage	Public domain

Image info/credit

Athletics sprinter and American Football wide receiver

Bob Hayes is ...

Dead

Born	20 December 1942 in Jacksonville
Died	18 September 2002 in Jacksonville
Age	59 years, 9 months
Cause	prostate cancer

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United States of America
Manner of death	natural causes
Occupation	sprinter and American football player
Height	1.83m (6'0")
Weight	185kg (407.9lbs)
Awards	Pro Football Hall of Fame
Sport	American football and athletics
Member of sports team	Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers

About Bob Hayes

Bob Hayes was a true American sports icon, known for his blazing speed and electrifying performances on both the track and the football field. Born on December 20, 1942, in Jacksonville, Florida, Hayes grew up in poverty and struggled with a stuttering problem. However, he found solace in sports, particularly track and field, where he discovered his natural talent for sprinting.

Hayes burst onto the international scene at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where he won two gold medals and set world records in both the 100-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay. His performance was so dominant that he earned the nickname "Bullet Bob" and became the first person to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

After the Olympics, Hayes turned his attention to football and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965. He quickly established himself as one of the most explosive wide receivers in the game, using his speed to outrun defenders and make big plays. In 1972, he helped lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Off the field, Hayes struggled with personal demons, including drug addiction and legal troubles. However, he eventually turned his life around and became an advocate for drug rehabilitation and education.

Hayes passed away in 2002 at the age of 59, but his legacy lives on as one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and remains an inspiration to athletes around the world.

References:

- "Bob Hayes: The Fastest Man in Football." NFL Films Presents, 2002.

- "Bob Hayes." Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bob-hayes/

- "Bob Hayes, Olympic Sprint Champion and Dallas Cowboys Receiver, Dies at 59." The New York Times, September 19, 2002. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/19/sports/bob-hayes-olympic-sprint-champion-and-dallas-cowboys-receiver-dies-at-59.html