Mike Haynes New England Patriots & Los Angeles Raiders

"(Playing defense) You’re always either bad or great. There are no in-betweens. I wish the public was more educated about defenses but they’re not … I’ve had some of my best games when I’ve completely shut out a guys and it goes unnoticed.”

Mike Haynes, a three-year All-WAC star at Arizona State, was the New England Patriots’ first selection in the 1976 NFL Draft. The 6-2, 192-pound Haynes was the fifth player and the first defensive back taken in that year’s draft.

Haynes relied on his speed, quickness and range to become both a premier defensive back and an outstanding punt return specialist. He enjoyed a sensational rookie year with the Patriots with eight interceptions and an AFC-leading 608 yards on 45 punt returns. That year, Haynes gave the Patriots their first-ever touchdowns on punt returns with 89-yard and 62-yard returns. He earned a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie, the first of nine Pro Bowl bids.

Haynes, who was born on July 1, 1953, in Denison, Texas, recorded 28 interceptions and 1,159 yards on 111 returns, a 10.4-yard average during his seven years with the Patriots. He started his career with 58 consecutive starts before being sidelined with a rib injury late in 1979.

Haynes played out his option with the Patriots in 1982 and in November, 1983, his contract was awarded to the Los Angeles Raiders in a settlement that gave the Patriots a No. 1 draft choice in 1984 and a No. 2 pick in 1985. Haynes played the last five games in 1983 and then started and had one interception in the Raiders’ Super Bowl XVIII victory.

In seven seasons with the Raiders, Haynes returned only one punt but he added 18 interceptions to give him a career total of 46 which were returned for 688 yards and two touchdowns, including a team-record 97-yard return against Miami in 1984. Haynes was an All-Pro choice in 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984 and 1985 and an All-AFC pick eight times.

Mike Haynes's Stats

Mike Haynes's Championship Games

Championship Games

1983 AFC – Los Angeles Raiders 30, Seattle Seahawks 14
Haynes starting right cornerback for Raiders.

Super Bowls

Super Bowl XVIII – Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9
Haynes starting right cornerback for Raiders. He intercepted one pass with no return.

Mike Haynes's Career Highlights

All-League Teams

All-Pro: (4) – 1978 (NEA, PFWA); 1982 (NEA); 1984 (AP, NEA, PFWA); 1985 (AP, NEA, PFWA)
All-AFC: (8) – 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985
All-Rookie: 1976 (PFWA)

Pro Bowls

(9) – 1977*, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985*, 1986, 1987 (* Did not play)

In the NFL Record Book

At time of his retirement following 1989 season

[Tied for 3rd] Most Interception Yards Gained, Game – 151 vs. Miami Dolphins, December 2, 1984
[3rd] Most Punt Return Yards, Rookie Season – 608 in 1976

Team Records

Records Set by Mike Haynes while a member of the New England Patriots
(Records through 1982 season, Haynes' last season with Patriots)

[1st] Longest Blocked Field Goal Returned for TD – 65 yards (at New York Jets, October 5, 1980)
[1st] Most Punt Returns, Career – 103
[1st] Most Punt Returns, Season – 45 (1976)
[1st] Most Punt Return Yards, Career –1159
[1st] Most Punt Return Yards, Season – 608 (1976)

[1st] Longest Punt Return – 89 yards (vs. Buffalo, November 7, 1976) (TD)
[1st] Highest Punt Return Average, Game (min. 3) – 39.0 (4 returns vs. Buffalo, Nov. 7, 1976)
[1st] Most Touchdowns on Punt Returns, Career – 2
[1st] Most Touchdowns on Punt Returns, Season – 2 (1976)
[Tied 1st] Most Touchdowns on Punt Returns, Game – 1 (vs. Buffalo, November 7, 1976; vs. Denver, November 28, 1976)

Records Set by Mike Haynes while a member of the Los Angeles Raiders
(Records through 1989 season, Haynes' last season with Raiders)

[1st] Most Interception Yards, Game – 151 yards (at Miami, December 2, 1984)
[1st] Longest Interception Return – 97 yards (at Miami, December 2, 1984)

League/Team Statistical Titles

League Statistical Championships
Interception Return Yardage: 1984

Conference Statistical Championships
Punt Returns: 1976 (AFC)
Punt Return Yardage: 1976 (AFC)

Team Statistical Championships
Punt Returns: (2) – 1976 Patriots, 1977 Patriots
Interceptions: (6) – 1976 Patriots, 1977 Patriots, 1978 Patriots, 1982 Patriots, 1984 Raiders, 1988 Raiders*

* Tied for team lead

Awards/Honors

1976 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (AP, Pro Football Weekly, Football Digest)
1976 AFC Rookie of the Year (UPI, The Sporting News, NEA - Bert Bell Trophy)
All-Decade Team of the 1980s
NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (1994)

Year-By-Year Team Records

* AFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.

Mike Haynes's Career Capsule

Full Name: Michael James Haynes

Birthdate: July 1, 1953

Birthplace: Denison, Texas

High School: John Marshall (Los Angeles, CA)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 25, 1997

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 26, 1997

Presenter: Howard Slusher, Haynes' former player agent

Other Members of Class of 1997: Wellington Mara, Don Shula, Mike Webster

Pro Career: 14 seasons, 177 games

Drafted: 1st round (5th overall) by New England Patriots

Uniform Number: 22, 40

Mike Haynes Enshrinement speech