Chiefs legend Abner Haynes dead at 86 years old

The Kansas City Chiefs have lost one of their all-time franchise greats as RB Abner Haynes passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, per multiple reports.

He was 86 years old.

One of the top rushers in the AFL, Haynes was a pioneer for Black athletes in the league during the 1960s. A fifth-round selection out of North Texas in the 1960 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Haynes opted to sign with the AFL's Dallas Texans after Bobby Layne and Buddy Parker had rubbed his father (a minister) the wrong way. He signed his contract with the team shortly after the 1959 Sun Bowl against the New Mexico State Aggies.

He quickly established himself as a pivotal part of the fledgling league, earning AFL Rookie of the Year and AFL Player of the Year honors during its inaugural season after a league-leading 156 attempts for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a dynamo for the then-Dallas Texans and a pivotal part of the Chiefs' franchise in its earliest years.

During his five seasons with the Texans/Chiefs from 1960-1964, Haynes amassed 794 carries for 3,814 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 199 passes for 2,739 yards and 17 more scores. He played two years with the Denver Broncos after being traded from Kansas City in 1965. He split his final year in the AFL in 1967 between time with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

In the 1962 AFL Championship Game, Haynes nearly made a costly mistake during the overtime coin toss. Hank Stram had instructed him to choose the end of the field facing the stadium's clock to have the wind at the team's back. Upon winning the toss, Haynes told the referee, "We'll kick to the clock." That, in turn, allowed the Houston Oilers to choose the direction they were facing and get the ball first. Thankfully, the gaffe didn't cost the then-Texans as they didn't allow the Oilers to score on the opening drive. He'd go on to become an AFL Champion after scoring two touchdowns during the game.

Haynes finished his career as a 3-time First-Team All-AFL player, a 4-time AFL All-Star, a 3-time AFL Rushing Touchdowns leader and a 1-time AFL Rushing Yards leader. In his final season with the Chiefs, he earned AFL Comeback Player of the Year honors after he dealt with a back injury and the death of his friend Stone Johnson during the 1963 AFL season.

Haynes once owned nine franchise records, but now shares several with the likes of Jamaal Charles, Tyreek Hill, and others. He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Honor (Hall of Fame) in 1991 . Haynes' No. 28 jersey is also among the 10 jerseys that the team has retired.

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