It’s a known fact that some of the greatest athletes that ever lived come from HBCUs. Dominating sports such as basketball, football, tennis, baseball, and track and field put on for the institutions from which they came. Some of these athletes have gone on to win Super Bowls, NBA championships, Grand Slam titles, World Series, and more. And, for the best of the best, they’ve made it to the Olympics.

Representing their country by competing in the sport they love most. For some athletes, their dream is to win the Super Bowl; for others, it is to go to the Olympics.For Florida A&M alumnus Bob Hayes, he was able to do both.

With the Olympic trials beginning this week and the Olympic games just weeks away, we wanted to highlight the only man to win an Olympic gold medal and the NFL Super Bowl. Here is the story of Bob “Bullet” Hayes.

Rattler Nation

Robert Lee “Bob” Hayes was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 20, 1942. Hayes attended Florida A&M University on an athletic scholarship, where he excelled in both football and track and field. Known for his immense speed, during his time at FAMU, his coach, Pete Griffin, gave him the nickname “Crow” because he was of a darker complexion, and he could fly.

He won three consecutive AAU national championships in the 100-yard dash and an NCAA championship in the 200-meter dash. Hayes never lost a 100-yard or 100-meter race in his entire collegiate and Olympic career. His superb athleticism earned him invitations to both the 1964 NFL Draft and the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

The Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games

Hayes received an invitation to join the 1964 Olympic team but did not accept the invitation right away. FAMU coach Jake Gaither was concerned that his time away from the team would jeopardize their chances of winning a national championship. Gaither reluctantly allowed Hayes to accept the invitation on one condition. “You will have to earn your spot back when you finish with the Olympics. We don’t hold positions for anybody,” Gaither told Hayes.

Hayes was selected to run the 100-meter dash and anchor the 4×100-meter relay team. He ran the 100 meters in just 10 seconds flat, winning his first of two medals for Team U.S.A. while also setting a new Olympic record. Hayes also earned a gold medal in the men’s 4×100-meter relay.

He served as the anchor, but by the time the baton made its way to him, his team was in fifth place. Hayes blazed past runners from Jamaica, Russia, Poland, and France. Earning the United States another gold medal in a world record 39.06 seconds. After his time at the Olympics, he went on to play in the NFL.

Time with the Dallas Cowboys

Hayes was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL Draft, held in December 1963. He joined the team just before the 1965 regular season and wowed his teammates during training camp with his speed. His speed alone forced the NFL to rearrange their defenses just to cover him. Hayes played for the Cowboys 10 out of 11 seasons during his career, except for his final year playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

During his time with the Cowboys, Hayes set numerous records. According to the Dallas Cowboys official site, “To this day, Hayes holds 10 regular season receiving records, four punt return records, and 22 overall franchise marks, making him one of the greatest receivers to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys.”

He won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 1972, where they beat the Miami Dolphins 24-3. After winning the Super Bowl, Hayes became the only person in the world to have won a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. He is also in the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame, the Olympic Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sadly, Hayes died in 2002 of kidney failure after battling prostate and liver problems at age 59.