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Lester Craig Hayes (born January 22, 1955) is an American former professional football cornerback who played for the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Hayes was commonly referred to as "the Judge" and "Lester the Molester" because of his bump-and-run coverage.
- 39
- Wheatley, (Houston, Texas)
- Growing Up in Texas
- Recruited by Accident
- Getting Attention in College Station
- Incredible 1976
- Oakland Selects Hayes
- Hayes Acquires Another Nickname
- Near Record Setting 1980
- Raiders Return to The Super Bowl
- Hayes Begins to Slow
- Retirement
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Lester Craig Hayes was born on January 22, 1955, in Houston, Texas. While he was still young, Hayes developed a stuttering problem that left him embarrassed and humiliated. To avoid bullying, Hayes rarely spoke and preferred to let his athleticism and fists do most of the talking. Hayes grew up in the 5th Ward area of Houston, and to put it mildly,...
On the gridiron, Hayes was an afterthought as a defensive end. It was only by accident that coaches from Texas A&M happened to spot Hayes while recruiting players for an opposing team. Bellard introduced himself to Hayes and spent several minutes trying to get to know him. Meanwhile, Hayes never spoke, and Bellard thought he had botched his recruit...
Shortly after arriving in College Station, Hayes was moved to outside linebacker. He also adapted to the change of pace now that he was out of Houston. The following year, Hayes was moved again – this time to safety. As Hayes was learning a new position, A&M was slowly improving in the win column after years of losing records. During Hayes’ freshma...
Hayes’ senior year in 1976 was one to remember. After the first five games of the season, the Aggies were just 3-2. Then they busted loose for seven victories to end the year including blowing out rival University of Texas and beating the Florida Gators in the Sun Bowl on January 2. Hayes led the team in picksagain with eight, which was the most by...
Texas A&M’s resurgence in the win column, along with Hayes’ exceptional play in 1975 and ‘76, gained the attention of NFL scouts. With the 126th overall selection in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders drafted Hayes. He couldn’t have gone to a better organization. In 1976, the Raiders had only lost one game and won Super Bowl...
By 1978, Hayes became a full-time starter and picked off 11 passes combined in ‘78 and 1979. Additionally, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in ‘79 (the NFL did not keep track of tackles at the time). Although the Raiders finished both seasons out of the playoff picture with 9-7 records, Hayes was developing a reputation as a shutdown co...
The stars aligned for the Raiders in 1980. During the regular season, the team went 11-5 and defeated Houston, Cleveland, and San Diego in the playoffs before meeting the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. Hayes did his part by flying all over the field and harassing receivers. By the end of the season, he had hauled in 13 interceptions for 273 ...
After the 1980 season, the NFL league office had received enough complaints about Hayes’ Stickum use that the league banned the substance. In fact, the NFL named the new rule after Hayes. The ruling meant Hayes could no longer stick to his man. He had to do it the old-fashioned way. Opponents soon realized that Hayes was a natural and that Stickum ...
In 1984 and 1985, the Raiders won 11 and 12 games respectively but couldn’t get past their first playoff opponent both years. Hayes remained consistent while collecting five total interceptions including a pick for a touchdown in ‘85. Although he was voted to the Pro Bowl after the ‘84 season, opponents remarked that Hayes was slowing down. Hayes l...
Before the 1986 season, Hayes announced that he was fully healthy and ready to play. That season, while LA missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record, Hayes started 14 games and collected two interceptions and two fumble recoveries including one returned for a score. When the season concluded Hayes knew that he had played his last game and retired. In ...
Learn about the life and achievements of Lester Hayes, the Hall of Fame safety who played for the Raiders and the Raiders' rival, the Oilers. From his childhood in Houston to his college and NFL success, discover how he overcame his stuttering problem and became one of the best defenders of his generation.
Checkout the latest stats for Lester Hayes. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.
- January 22, 1955
Nov 22, 2023 · How a tub of glue helped Lester Hayes break the NFL record for interceptions in 1980. Learn about the Raiders' dirty play, the stickum controversy, and the legacy of the man who got rules named after him.
Lester Hayes was a standout defensive back for the Aggies from 1974 to 1976, setting a school record with 14 interceptions. He also had a successful NFL career with the Raiders, winning two Super Bowls and leading the league with 13 interceptions in 1980.
Jul 1, 2020 · An in-depth analysis of the resume of Lester Hayes thoroughly proves he belongs in the NFL Hall of Fame. Jairo Alvarado. Jul 1, 2020 8:51 AM EDT. The list goes on for Raider players who belong...
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Feb 8, 2020 · Lester Hayes played 10 seasons with the Raiders, winning two Super Bowls and setting a modern-day record with 13 interceptions in 1980. He was famous for using Stickum, a sticky substance that helped him disrupt receivers, but also led to its ban in the NFL.
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