DALLAS — Editor's note: The video published above is a KYTX interview with Haynes from 2019.
Former Dallas Texans star running back Abner Hayes died on July 18, according to a statement from the team, now known as the Kansas City Chiefs. He was 86.
The announcement from the Chiefs did not give any details regarding how Hayes died, nor does his online obituary on Legacy.com.
Haynes was born in Denton and played college ball for the North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas) from 1956 to 1960. He and his teammate Leon King are credited with integrating college football in Texas, becoming the first African-American student-athletes to play college football in the Lone Star State.
He would go on to star for the local AFL team, the Dallas Texans, from 1960 to 1962 before the franchise relocated to Kansas City.
Haynes also played for the franchise under the Chiefs brand in 1963 and 1964. In five seasons with the Texans/Chiefs, he racked up 3,814 yards and 39 touchdowns, caught 199 passes for 2,739 yards and 17 scores, averaged 25.5 yards and scored one touchdown on kickoff returns, and averaged 10.9 yards on punt returns.
"My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "Abner was one of the first great stars of the Dallas Texans and the American Football League."
Haynes was named the AFL Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and AFL MVP in 1960.
After his five-year stint with the Chiefs, he played for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
In 2019, WFAA sister station in Tyler, KYTX, spoke with Haynes at his home in Palestine, Texas. He spoke about his journey growing up playing football in North Texas in the 1950s and 1960s, his professional NFL career and another Texas football star making plays nowadays for the Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes.
Haynes was inducted into the UNT Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1991.
"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. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Guadalupe and his entire family during this difficult time," Hunt concluded in his statement.
Haynes' visitation is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 26 at Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home, located at 6449 University Hills Boulevard in Dallas. His funeral is set for 11 a.m. on July 27 at Grace Cathedral COGIC, located at 7615 S. Polk St. in Dallas.
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