Abner Haynes was one of the original stars of the American Football League. He was the MVP in 1960. The great running back died on Thursday in Dallas at the age of 86.
Haynes played college football at North Texas State College. He was a fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He opted to sign with the AFL Dallas Texans.
“He was a franchise player before they talked about franchise players”, the late Hank Stram once said. “He did it all – rushing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns. He gave us the dimension we needed to be a good team in Dallas.”
Haynes ranks sixth in franchise history with 8,473 career combined net yards. He led the club in rushing four of his five seasons with the team (1960, ’61, ’62 and ’64). He became the franchise’s first 1,000-yard rusher, accumulating 1,049 yards during the club’s 1962 AFL Championship season.
Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt offered condolences.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes,” Hunt said. “Abner was one of the first great stars of the Dallas Texans and the American Football League.
“In the league’s first season in 1960, Abner earned Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors, and more importantly, he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates and fans alike. In addition to his on-the-field prowess, Abner was a man of courage and leadership from a very young age. He remained involved in the community well after his playing days were over, and his legacy extends far beyond the gridiron.”