Editing Lester Hayes

{{distinguish|Lester Hayes III}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Lester Hayes
| image       =
| image_size  = 
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| number      = 37
| position    = [[Cornerback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1955|1|22|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lb   = 200
| high_school = [[Wheatley High School (Houston)|Wheatley]] <br> (Houston, Texas)
| college     = [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] (1973–1976)
| draftyear   = 1977
| draftround  = 5
| draftpick   = 126
| pastteams   =
* [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1977|1986}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XV|XV]], [[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]])
* [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1980)
* 4× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1980 All-Pro Team|1980]], [[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]], [[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]], [[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1982 All-Pro Team|1982]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1981 Pro Bowl|1980]]–[[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]])
* [[List of National Football League annual interceptions leaders|NFL interceptions leader]] (1980)
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1975 College Football All-America Team|1975]])
* First-team All-[[Southwest Conference|SWC]] ([[1975 All-Southwest Conference football team|1975]])
* Second-team All-SWC ([[1976 All-Southwest Conference football team|1976]])
| statlabel1  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1  = 39
| statlabel2  = Interception yards
| statvalue2  = 572
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3  = 7
| statlabel4  = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue4  = 5
| pfr         = H/HayeLe00 
}}

'''Lester Craig Hayes''' (born January 22, 1955) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[cornerback]] for the [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).

Hayes shares the all-time club record for regular-season [[interception]]s, 39, with [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]], while his eight [[NFL playoffs|playoff]] interceptions rank as the fifth-most in NFL history.<ref>[https://www.www.si.com/nfl/raiders/.amp/news/lester-hayes-oakland-raiders-nfl-hall-of-fame Lester Hayes NFL Hall of Fame] ''Sports Illustrated'' {{dead link|date=March 2023}}</ref> His season with 13 interceptions in [[1980 Oakland Raiders season|1980]] is tied for second-most in a single season all-time and the most since 1952.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/def_int_single_season.htm | title=NFL Interceptions Single-Season Leaders (Since 1940) | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref> Hayes contributed to the Raiders' [[Super Bowl]] wins in [[Super Bowl XV|1980]] and [[Super Bowl XVIII|1983]]. He was a two-time [[All-Pro]] selection (1980 and 1983) and a five-time [[Pro Bowl]]er (1980–1984).

==College career==
In college starting in 1973, Hayes played for the [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M Aggies]]. He first played defensive end as a freshman and then linebacker and safety as a sophomore. During his junior and senior years, Hayes settled in as a safety and became an [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Today in Aggie History: Football great Lester Hayes was born |url=https://www.myaggienation.com/am_news/today_in_aggie_history/today-in-aggie-history-football-great-lester-hayes-was-born/article_6b085f60-a1d1-11e4-93b8-7fcb8f1fd357.html |website=My Aggie Nation.com |publisher=BH Media Group, Inc |access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>

Hayes was nicknamed "The Judge."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Bob |date=September 7, 1984 |title=Packers hoping to outflank Raider secondary |work=Torrance Daily Breeze |pages=D1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Jay |date=March 25, 1990 |title=Marino angers Miami fans |work=The Orange County Register |pages=c06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Olderman |first=Murray |date=January 28, 1981 |title=Halas Trophy Awarded to Raiders' Lester Hayes |work=Napa Valley Register |pages=13}}</ref> According to Hayes, he received the nickname in [[1975 Texas A&M Aggies football team|1975]] after a win against rival [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]], as he explained: "They had a partial-mortal, partial-god named [[Earl Campbell]]. I predicted he'd have an off day and gain 21 yards. He gained 23. I passed a [[decree]] on Mr. Earl Campbell."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Chris |date=November 24, 1985 |title=Unique? Hayes has cornered market |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |pages=H-14}}</ref>

Hayes intercepted 14 passes in his Texas A&M career (returned for 189 yards and a [[Pick 6 (American football)|touchdown]]), ranking second in school history.<ref>{{Cite book |title=2024 Texas A&M Football Media Guide |publisher=Texas A&M Athletics Department |year=2024 |pages=81}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Hayes was converted by [[John Madden]] from [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] to [[cornerback]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whisnand |first=Charles |date=March 6, 2024 |title=The Judge: Hayes at Save Mart to help Strathmore Boys and Girls Club |work=The Porterville Recorder}}</ref> after being chosen by the Raiders in the [[1977 NFL draft|fifth round of the 1977 draft]].

Henceforth, Hayes became known for his [[bump and run coverage|bump-and-run coverage]] style of play coveted by team executive [[Al Davis]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Telander |first=Rick |date=September 24, 1984 |title=He's Got 'Em Cornered |work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> Hayes played with a distinctive stance, crouching very low when facing the opposing [[wide receiver]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Owen |first=Matthew |date=May 28, 2023 |title=Matthew in the Middle: Fan boy meets Raiders' great |work=Eureka Times-Standard |pages=4}}</ref>

Hayes was known as one of the greatest shutdown cornerbacks in NFL history, and [[Deion Sanders]], often cited as one of the all-time elite modern cornerbacks, wrote that Hayes was one of his key influences growing up watching football.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanders |first=Deion |title=Power, Money and Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life |publisher=Thomas Nelson |year=1999 |isbn=978-0849937767 |pages=97}}</ref> In 1980, Hayes led the NFL with 13 regular-season interceptions, tied for second-most with [[Dan Sandifer]], who had set a record in 1948, and behind [[Dick "Night Train" Lane]] with 14 in 1952, and was named [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|AP Defensive Player of the Year]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lowitt|first1=Bruce|title=Lester Hayes picks off defensive player award|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19810108&id=gF0tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y9kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5241,1304032&hl=en|access-date=July 11, 2016|work=Beaver County Times|agency=Associated Press|date=January 8, 1981|page=B-1}}</ref> and the [[NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NEA Defensive Player of the Year]].

Hayes added five more interceptions in Oakland's three 1980 playoff games, as they advanced to a victory in [[Super Bowl XV]]. His best performance was arguably in Super Bowl XVIII, played on his 29th birthday. Hayes had only one tackle, but that was because he so effectively covered [[Charlie Brown (wide receiver, born 1958)|Charlie Brown]] and [[Art Monk]] that [[Joe Theismann]] hardly threw to the left side of the field.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Ultimate Super Bowl Book |last=McGinn |first=Bob |year=2009 |publisher=MVP Books |location=[[Minneapolis]] |isbn=978-0-7603-3651-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/ultimatesuperbow00mcgi_0 }}</ref>

During his last four seasons, he formed a partnership with [[Mike Haynes (cornerback)|Mike Haynes]] that has been considered one of the best in league history.  Hayes and Haynes gave the Raiders the luxury of having two shutdown corners. They are widely reckoned as being the prototypes for a generation of speedy and physical cornerbacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/sports/football/before-revis-and-cromartie-there-was-haynes-and-hayes.html?_r=0|title=Before Revis and Cromartie there was Haynes and Hayes|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 24, 2011}}</ref>

Hayes retired after the 1986 season with a total of 39 regular-season interceptions (including four defensive touchdowns), a Raider record shared with Hall of Famer [[Willie Brown (American football, born 1940)|Willie Brown]], and eight [[NFL playoffs|playoff]] interceptions, fifth-most in NFL postseason history as of 2025.

In 2012, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Hayes to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2012.htm |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913215154/http://profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2012.htm |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Stickum usage===
Hayes was introduced to [[Stickum]], an adhesive substance used by players to improve their grip, in his 1977 rookie season by [[Fred Biletnikoff]]. Instead of just applying a small amount to his hands, though, he began to slather it all over his arms and even his uniform, drawing more and more attention to the substance.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Kaplan|first1=Emily|title=History of the NFL in 95 Objects: Stickum|url=http://mmqb.si.com/2014/07/15/nfl-history-in-95-objects-stickum|access-date=December 4, 2016|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 14, 2015}}</ref> Hayes later described the influence the adhesive had on his career, saying that before being introduced to it in his rookie year, he "couldn't catch a cold in Antarctica".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kroichick |first=Ron |date=2000-12-31 |title=Hayes Now Leads the Quiet Life / Former scourge of the secondary has exchanged partying for religion |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/kroichick/article/Hayes-Now-Leads-the-Quiet-Life-Former-scourge-3236046.php |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> The use of Stickum was banned by the NFL in 1981 by [[List of NFL nicknames#Rules named after NFL figures|a rule bearing his name]].

In the six seasons that Hayes played following the banning of Stickum, he had 14 total interceptions, compared to the 25 that he had in his first four seasons. However, he was named to the Pro Bowl and selected as a second-team All-Pro four times after 1980.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chadiha|first1=Jeffri|title=Notorious image sticks with these Raiders|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/cheat/news/story?id=2957892|access-date=December 4, 2016|publisher=ESPN|date=August 9, 2007}}</ref> Hayes later stated that alongside lingering thumb injuries, the Stickum ban contributed to a decline in his later career.<ref name=":0" /> Biletnikoff and [[Jerry Rice]], both of whom have admitted their usage of Stickum, have been inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], while Hayes has not.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jerry-rice-on-stickum-use-all-players-did-it/ | title=Jerry Rice on stickum use: 'All players did it' | date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref> He has been a finalist four times (2001–2004) and a semifinalist six times (2005–2010).

== Personal life ==
Early in his career, Hayes spoke with a [[Stuttering|stutter]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bobrick |first=Benson |title=Knotted Tongues: Stuttering in History and the Quest for a Cure |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2011 |isbn=978-1501140877}}</ref> However, in the spring of 1981, Hayes overcame his [[speech impediment]] with the benefit of [[Speech pathologist|speech pathologists]] at the Communications Research Center of [[Hollins College]] in Virginia, as he slowed down in speaking while dropping his voice level from E pitch to C.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |date=October 5, 1981 |title=Violent and Eloquent: Oakland's Lester Hayes Excels at the Bump-and-Run and Now He Has Beaten a Speech Problem by Taking it Head On |work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

A big ''[[Star Wars]]'' fan, during pregame interviews for [[Super Bowl XVIII]], Hayes declared himself the "only true [[Jedi]]" in the NFL.<ref>''Super Bowl by the Bay'', p.51, (c)1984 by Bohn & Bland Publishers, Inc.</ref>

He moved to [[Modesto, California]] in 1994 for a more "quiet life."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroichick |first=Ron |date=2000-12-31 |title=Hayes Now Leads the Quiet Life / Former scourge of the... |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/kroichick/article/Hayes-Now-Leads-the-Quiet-Life-Former-scourge-3236046.php |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Raiders1977DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XV}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}
{{NFL DPOYs}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{NFL1980s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayes, Lester}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Houston]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Modesto, California]]
[[Category:Texas A&M Aggies football players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners]]