Abner Haynes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Hall of Fame running back died, the organization confirmed.
He was 86 years old.
The world has lost the AFL's first Player of the Year and a Chiefs Hall of Famer. Rest in peace, Abner â¤ď¸
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 18, 2024
Forever a part of the Mean Green family đ đ¤#GMG pic.twitter.com/J23p9SX7qs
— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) July 18, 2024
Haynes began his football career at North Texas, where he and Leon King were the first African American students to play collegiate football in the state. He was the school’s starting running back in 1958 and 1959.
Haynes was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1960 NFL selection after setting a North Texas record of 28.6 yards per punt return, which continues today.
He instead decided to play for the AFL’s Dallas Texans, where he helped promote the fledgling league as one of its first stars.
In 1960, he was voted the league’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, and two years later, he became the first runner in franchise history to surpass 1,000 running yards, helping the Texans win the AFL championship.
Haynes remained with the franchise for two more seasons when the team was renamed the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.
He went on to play for the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets before retiring in 1967 with 4,630 career rushing yards for 39 touchdowns and 3,535 receiving yards for 20 touchdowns.
Following his career, Haynes became one of the first Black sports agents to be licensed in Texas, representing over 90 NFL players. He later founded the Abner Haynes Heroes of Football Foundation to assist retired football players who were injured during their careers.
Haynes entered the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1991. Both teams retired his number 28, and he and King will be memorialized with a plaza outside the North Texas stadium in 2022.