Abner Haynes
Encyclopedia
Abner Haynes is a former college and professional football
player in the United States
.
Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
) where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956. In 1960 he chose to play for the American Football League
's Dallas Texans
and led the league in rushing attempts, yards, and TDs in its first year. Haynes helped launch the AFL in 1960, when he was the fledgling league's first Player of the Year
, and its first Rookie of the Year
. He captured the AFL's first rushing crown with 875 yards, and also led the Texans in receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Haynes spent three years in Dallas and two with same franchise when it became the Kansas City Chiefs
. The Kansas City Chiefs, and the North Texas Eagles will later retire his number (28) Jersey in honor of his many achievements.
Haynes still owns 10 franchise records, including most points in a game (30), most touchdowns in a game (5), and most career combined yards (8,442). Over his career he was regularly among the American Football League's top ten rushers, ranking third all-time, and the all-time leader in touchdowns, with 46. He was Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram
's most versatile and dangerous weapon from 1960-62, amassing 43 touchdowns and 4,472 yards on rushes and receptions. In 1962, he helped the Texans win the AFL Championship in the classic double-overtime victory over the two-time defending champion Houston Oilers. At the time it was the longest professional football championship game
ever played. In that game, Haynes scored touchdowns on a 28-yard pass reception from quarterback Len Dawson
, and on a 2-yard run.
"He was a franchise player before they talked about franchise players," praised Stram. "He did it all -- rushing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns. He gave us the dimension we needed to be a good team in Dallas."
The 6-foot-1, 200 pound (91 kg) Haynes, who had great speed and dazzling moves in the open field, set AFL records with 5 touchdowns in a game and 19 touchdowns in a season in 1961, and with 46 career rushing touchdowns. He also played for the Denver Broncos
, the Miami Dolphins
, and the New York Jets
.
During his 8 professional seasons, Haynes carried the ball 1,036 times for 4,630 yards, a 4.5 average; caught 287 passes for 3,535 yards, a 12.3 average, and 20 touchdowns; returned 85 punts for 875 yards, a 10.3 average, and 1 touchdown; and ran back 121 kickoffs for 3,025 yards, a 25.0 average, and 1 touchdown. His 12,065 combined yards is the American Football League record. Haynes had three games in which he gained 100 or more yards on 14 or fewer carries, and was selected to the All-Time All-AFL second team
. He has a program called Heroes of Football which connects former professional players with their communities. Haynes is the cousin of Sly Stone, Rose Stone, and, Feddie Stone of Sly and the Family Stone.
, instructed Haynes, should the Texans win the coin toss, to choose the side of the field facing the stadium clock, which would give the Texans the wind at their backs. (In professional American football, the team winning the coin toss can choose to kick off, receive the kickoff, or which end of the field to defend.)
The Texans won the coin toss. Haynes, figuring the Oilers would elect to receive (thereby making the Texans kick off) if the Texans opted to choose which goal to defend, told the referee, "We'll kick to the clock." However, by simply stating the words "We'll kick," Haynes had made the Texans kick off and allowed the Oilers, not the Texans, to choose which end zone to defend. The Texans saved Haynes from embarrassment by not allowing the Oilers to score in that first overtime, then won the game on Tommy Brooker
's field goal 2 minutes and 54 seconds into the second overtime (when the teams switched goals).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
) where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956. In 1960 he chose to play for the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Dallas Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and led the league in rushing attempts, yards, and TDs in its first year. Haynes helped launch the AFL in 1960, when he was the fledgling league's first Player of the Year
American Football League Most Valuable Players
During its ten-year existence , the American Football League's best player for each year was called the Most Valuable Player by some sports-news sources and the Player of the Year by others...
, and its first Rookie of the Year
American Football League Rookies of the Year
In each year of its ten-year existence , numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football League's best first-year player...
. He captured the AFL's first rushing crown with 875 yards, and also led the Texans in receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Haynes spent three years in Dallas and two with same franchise when it became the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. The Kansas City Chiefs, and the North Texas Eagles will later retire his number (28) Jersey in honor of his many achievements.
Haynes still owns 10 franchise records, including most points in a game (30), most touchdowns in a game (5), and most career combined yards (8,442). Over his career he was regularly among the American Football League's top ten rushers, ranking third all-time, and the all-time leader in touchdowns, with 46. He was Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
's most versatile and dangerous weapon from 1960-62, amassing 43 touchdowns and 4,472 yards on rushes and receptions. In 1962, he helped the Texans win the AFL Championship in the classic double-overtime victory over the two-time defending champion Houston Oilers. At the time it was the longest professional football championship game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
ever played. In that game, Haynes scored touchdowns on a 28-yard pass reception from quarterback Len Dawson
Len Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
, and on a 2-yard run.
"He was a franchise player before they talked about franchise players," praised Stram. "He did it all -- rushing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns. He gave us the dimension we needed to be a good team in Dallas."
The 6-foot-1, 200 pound (91 kg) Haynes, who had great speed and dazzling moves in the open field, set AFL records with 5 touchdowns in a game and 19 touchdowns in a season in 1961, and with 46 career rushing touchdowns. He also played for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
During his 8 professional seasons, Haynes carried the ball 1,036 times for 4,630 yards, a 4.5 average; caught 287 passes for 3,535 yards, a 12.3 average, and 20 touchdowns; returned 85 punts for 875 yards, a 10.3 average, and 1 touchdown; and ran back 121 kickoffs for 3,025 yards, a 25.0 average, and 1 touchdown. His 12,065 combined yards is the American Football League record. Haynes had three games in which he gained 100 or more yards on 14 or fewer carries, and was selected to the All-Time All-AFL second team
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
. He has a program called Heroes of Football which connects former professional players with their communities. Haynes is the cousin of Sly Stone, Rose Stone, and, Feddie Stone of Sly and the Family Stone.
“We’ll Kick to the Clock”
In that 1962 AFL Championship Game, Haynes made what could have been a costly error at the start of overtime. Stram, aware of the strong winds at Jeppesen StadiumRobertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
, instructed Haynes, should the Texans win the coin toss, to choose the side of the field facing the stadium clock, which would give the Texans the wind at their backs. (In professional American football, the team winning the coin toss can choose to kick off, receive the kickoff, or which end of the field to defend.)
The Texans won the coin toss. Haynes, figuring the Oilers would elect to receive (thereby making the Texans kick off) if the Texans opted to choose which goal to defend, told the referee, "We'll kick to the clock." However, by simply stating the words "We'll kick," Haynes had made the Texans kick off and allowed the Oilers, not the Texans, to choose which end zone to defend. The Texans saved Haynes from embarrassment by not allowing the Oilers to score in that first overtime, then won the game on Tommy Brooker
Tommy Brooker
William Thomas “Tommy” Brooker is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player....
's field goal 2 minutes and 54 seconds into the second overtime (when the teams switched goals).