Abner Haynes, Legendary Running Back and AFL Pioneer, Dies at 86

Abner Haynes, a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame and a pioneering figure in the American Football League (AFL), has passed away at the age of 86. Haynes, who was a running back, died on Thursday in Dallas, Texas.

Haynes was a key player in the AFL’s early years, helping to popularize the league and earning numerous accolades, including Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors in 1960. He was also a champion in 1962 and spent five years with the Dallas Texans, including two years after the team moved to Kansas City in 1963.

In a statement, Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt remembered Haynes as a man of courage and leadership, saying, “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.”

Haynes’ professional football career came to an end in 1967, after brief stints with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. The AFL would later merge with the NFL in 1970 to form the modern version of the league.

Before joining the professional league, Haynes played college football at North Texas State, now the University of North Texas. He was one of the first two Black athletes to play college football in Texas, along with teammate Leon Kin, when they attended North Texas in 1956.

Thirty years after his time with the team, Haynes was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1991. His jersey number, No. 28, is one of just 10 that have been retired by the franchise.

The world has lost a legendary figure in the world of American football, and his legacy will be remembered for generations to come.