Lester Hayes (1995) - Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame - Texas A&M Athletics

Lester Hayes

Induction:
1995
Class:
1976

Finished his Texas A&M career as the school record holder with 14 career interceptions, a record that stood for 14 years. He remains No. 2 on the Aggies’ all-time interceptions list.
Hayes’ 8 pickoffs as a senior in 1976 were the most by an Aggie in 35 seasons and still ranks No. 3 in school history.
Hayes was the team leader in interceptions in 1975 (6 pickoffs) and 1976 (8).
He helped the Aggies to 10-win seasons as a junior and senior, including a share of the Southwest Conference crown in 1975. It was Texas A&M’s second and third 10-win campaign in program history.
With Hayes patrolling the secondary, the Aggies posted three straight seasons ranked in the top five nationally in total defense from 1974-76, including leading the nation by allowing just 183.8 yards per game in 1975.
Two-time All-SWC selection (1975 and 1976) and he earned first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News in 1976.
Was drafted in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and enjoyed a stellar 10-year NFL career that included two Super Bowl Championships, five Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the All-1980s team. He was the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and an NFL All-Pro in 1980 after leading the league with a then-modern day NFL record 13 interceptions.
At his best in big games, the “Judge” made eight career interceptions in the NFL Playoffs, which was the second-best in NFL history when he retired and remains tied for No. 5 (as of 2021).
Notorious for his liberal use of “Stickum,” the NFL enacted Rule 5.4.4.8 or the “Lester Hayes Rule” that banned the use of “adhesive substances.”