Casey Hayward Jr. (born September 9, 1989) is an American professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...
. He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Vanderbilt Commodores. Hayward was selected by the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
in the second round of the
2012 NFL draft and has played in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL) for the Packers,
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
/
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...
,
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West ...
, and
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
.
Early life
Hayward attended
Perry High School, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. In
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
, he was a three-year starter at
quarterback
The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...
and also played several games at cornerback.
As a senior, he led his team to the state quarterfinals by passing for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns as well as rushing for 1,284 yards and another 18 touchdowns.
He also had four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. His performance had him named the Region 4-AAA Player of the Year.
He was also named an All-State defensive back and an All-middle Georgia player. Hayward was also a member of the team's leadership council and a starting guard in
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
.
As an outstanding
track & field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and ...
athlete, Hayward excelled in sprints and jumps.
At the 2008 Patriot Invitational, he earned a second-place finish in the
triple jump
The triple jump, sometimes referred to as the hop, step and jump or the hop, skip and jump, is a track and field event, similar to long jump. As a group, the two events are referred to as the "horizontal jumps". The competitor runs down the tr ...
event, posting a career-best leap of 13.93 meters (45 ft, 6 in), while also placing twelfth in the
100-meter dash, with a time of 11.48 seconds. He recorded a personal-best leap of 6.83 meters (22 ft, 3 in) in the
long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a takeoff point. Along with the triple jump, the two events that measure jumping for distance as a gr ...
at the Harmon Invitational, where he took gold. He also ran a PR of 22.75 seconds in the
200-meter dash. In addition, he ran the
40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds,
bench-pressed 255 pounds, squatted 400 pounds and had a 33-inch
vertical.
Coming out of high school, Hayward was measured to be 6 ft. 1 in. and 185 pounds. He received very few scholarship offers from division schools, which he attributed to being "strictly a quarterback".
He was scouted by Georgia Tech, Louisville, Middle Tennessee State, North Carolina, Southern Miss, and Troy.
College career
Hayward ultimately chose to attend
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...
because of the school's academic ranking and the fact that the school is a member of the
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...
. He immediately played during his freshman year and made his permanent move to cornerback as a
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian Rock music, rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Hanna, Alberta. Throughout its history, it has consisted of lead guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan ...
and also on
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their position. Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
.
In 2009, he was promoted to the starting role and played in every game, although he did miss most of two games due to injury.
He was named the defensive player of the week against
LSU
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...
after contributing 13 tackles (eight solo) with 4 for a loss.
He was also named the team's most valuable defensive back.
Hayward continued to make an impact going into 2010 and started every game of the season. He had six interceptions, 70 tackles (59 solo), and 17 passes defended. He ranked first in the SEC and 3rd in the
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
for passes defended.
His performance earned him a spot on the second-team All-SEC as a defensive back by the coaches and media.
During his final season as a Vanderbilt Commodore, Hayward tied the
career record for interceptions at 15 (also held by
Leonard Coleman).
He also made 62 tackles, and had seven interceptions, the third highest single season total by a Vanderbilt player.
He was named a mid-season All-American by Sports Illustrated. At the end of the season, Hayward was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation, becoming the first Vanderbilt All-American in four years.
Professional career
Pre-draft
On January 9, 2012, it was announced that Hayward had accepted his invitation to play in the
2012 Senior Bowl. On January 28, 2012, he made a pass deflection and intercepted a pass by
Michigan State
Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the ...
quarterback
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans football, Mi ...
as part of
Washington Redskins' head coach
Mike Shanahan's South team that lost 23–13 to the North.
Hayward was one of 59 collegiate defensive backs to attend the
NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is a week-long showcase occurring every February at Lucas Oil Stadium (and formerly at the RCA Dome until 2008) in Indianapolis, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Foot ...
in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
. He completed all of the combine drills, finishing tied for tenth in the bench press among his position group and 25th in the 40-yard dash. On March 23, 2012, Hayward attended Vanderbilt's pro day, but opted to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills. Scouts praised his intelligence and instincts as well as his ability to recognize routes.
They also stated that he was a good tackler with good footwork and durability.
At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Hayward was projected to be a second or third round pick by NFL draft experts and analysts. He was ranked the fourth best cornerback prospect by NFL analyst
Mike Mayock
Michael Francis Mayock Sr. (born August 14, 1958) is an American former professional football executive and player in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a safety with the New York Giants. After his playing career, he was a draft ...
, was ranked the ninth best cornerback by NFLDraftScout.com, and was ranked the 12th best cornerback by NFL analyst
Gil Brandt.
Green Bay Packers
The
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
selected Hayward in the second round (62nd overall) of the
2012 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers had to orchestrate a trade with the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
in order to acquire the 62nd overall pick used to draft Hayward and agreed to exchange their 2012 third (90th overall) and fifth round picks (163rd overall). He was the fifth cornerback selected in 2012 and Vanderbilt's highest defensive back drafted since
Fred Vinson in
1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
.
2012
On May 11, 2012, the Green Bay Packers signed Hayward to a four–year,
$3.30 million
contract
A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves consent to transfer of goods, services, money, or promise to transfer any of thos ...
that includes $1.03 million guaranteed and an initial
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
of $847,208.
Throughout
training camp
A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...
, Hayward competed against
Jarrett Bush,
Sam Shields, and
Davon House for the vacant starting cornerback spot after veteran
Charles Woodson was moved to strong safety to replace
Nick Collins
Nicholas Cordell Collins (born August 16, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune ...
, who was released due to health concerns. Head coach
Mike McCarthy
Michael John McCarthy (born November 10, 1963) is an American professional American football, football coach who most recently was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 Dallas Cowboys season, 2020 t ...
named Hayward the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to start the season, behind starters
Sam Shields,
Tramon Williams, and primary backup Jarrett Bush.
On September 9, 2012, he made his professional regular season debut in the
Green Bay Packers' season-opener against the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
and recorded one solo tackle in their 30–23 loss. On October 7, 2012, Hayward recorded two combined tackles (one solo), broke up a pass, and made his first career interception off a pass attempt thrown by
Andrew Luck to wide receiver
Reggie Wayne
Reginald Wayne (born November 17, 1978) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football f ...
in the fourth quarter of the Packers' 30–27 loss to the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
. The following week, Hayward broke up three passes and intercepted two passes by
Matt Schaub and
T. J. Yates during the Packers' 42–24 victory at the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
in Week 6. On October 25, 2012, Hayward earned his first career start after Sam Shields injured his shin and knee and went on to record three solo tackles, make one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass thrown by
Sam Bradford to wide receiver
Chris Givens as they defeated the
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1995 through the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, California, where the team had played ...
30–20.
He was named the NFL defensive Rookie of the Month for October due to his four interceptions in three games. He finished third for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the NFL All-Joes team.

In Week 8, Hayward recorded a season-high eight combined tackles (six solo) in the Packers' 24–15 victory over the
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...
. On November 18, 2012, he produced five combined tackles (four solo), a career-high four pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford (born February 7, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs football, Georg ...
during a 24–20 win at the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
. In Week 15, he made one solo tackle, one pass deflection, and had his sixth interception of the season off a pass by
Jay Cutler
Jay Christopher Cutler (born April 29, 1983) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. A member of the Chicago Bears for most of his career, he is ...
in a 21–13 victory at the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
. He finished his rookie campaign in with 53 combined tackles (40 solo), 22 pass deflections, and six interceptions in 16 games and seven starts.
He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
The Green Bay Packers finished the
2012 NFL season first in the
NFC North with an 11–5 record and received a playoff berth. On January 5, 2013, Hayward played in his first career playoff game and collected four solo tackles in the 24–10 win against the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
in the NFC Wildcard game. The Packers were defeated 45–31 by the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
the following game.
Hayward earned the highest overall grade of any slot corner ever graded by Pro Football Focus.
2013
Defensive coordinator
Dom Capers and cornerbacks coach
Joe Whitt Jr. held an open competition between Hayward, Davon House,
Tramon Williams,
Sam Shields, Micah Hyde, and Jarrett Bush for a spot as a starting cornerback. He fell behind in training camp following a
hamstring
A hamstring () is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in human anatomy between the hip and the knee: from medial to lateral, the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris.
Etymology
The word " ham" is derived from the Old ...
injury that sidelined him for two weeks. Head coach Mike McCarthy named Hayward the third cornerback behind Williams and Shields to begin the regular season.
On August 23, 2013, Hayward returned for the third preseason game and recorded a tackle, a pass deflection, and made an interception before leaving the 17–10 loss to the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...
after aggravating his hamstring injury. He missed the last preseason game and first six regular season games (Weeks 1–6) with a hamstring injury. He returned prior to Week 8 and was the third cornerback on the depth chart behind Tramon Williams and Sam Shields. In Week 8, he recorded a solo tackle in the Packers' 44–31 victory at the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
. The following week, Hayward collected a season-high seven combined tackles (five solo) in a 27–20 loss to the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
. On November 23, 2013, the Green Bay Packers placed Hayward on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. He finished the season with eight combined tackles (five solo) in three games and one start.
2014
Throughout training camp in , Hayward competed for the third and fourth cornerback positions against
Davon House and
Micah Hyde for the position as the third cornerback on the depth chart and as the starting nickelback. Head coach Mike McCarthy named him the third cornerback on the depth chart, behind starting tandem Sam Shields and Tramon Williams, to begin the season.
In Week 7, he produced three solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by
Cam Newton
Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. He is the NFL le ...
to wide receiver
Brenton Bersin in a 38–17 victory against the
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
. On October 26, 2014, Hayward recorded a season-high six combined tackles (five solo) during a 44–23 loss at the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
. On November 9, 2014, Hayward made three solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Jay Cutler to running back
Matt Forte and returned it for 82–yards and scored his first career touchdown as the Packers routed the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
55–14. On November 16, 2014, he recorded one solo tackle and recovered a fumble after
Mark Sanchez failed to handle a high shotgun snap and returned it 49–yards for a touchdown as the Packers routed the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
53–20. He finished the 2014 season with 42 combined tackles (33 solo), seven pass deflections, and 3 interceptions in 16 games and one start.
2015
Throughout training camp Hayward competed against rookies
Damarious Randall and
Quinten Rollins to be the No. 2 starting cornerback after it was available following the departures of Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency. Head coach
Mike McCarthy
Michael John McCarthy (born November 10, 1963) is an American professional American football, football coach who most recently was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 Dallas Cowboys season, 2020 t ...
named Hayward and Shields the starting cornerback duo to begin the season.
On November 1, 2015, Hayward recorded a season-high seven combined tackles (six solo) and a season-high three pass deflections during a 29–10 loss at the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
. Hayward finished the season with a career-high 65 combined tackles (56 solo) and seven pass deflections in 16 games and 11 starts.
He played outside corner during the majority of the season, but also played nickelback when Damarious Randall was used on the outside with Shields. Hayward led all Packers' cornerbacks in tackles and with 908 snaps on defense.
The Green Bay Packers finished the
2015 NFL season second in their division with a 10–6 record, clinching a Wildcard berth. On January 10, 2016, Hayward started in a playoff game for the first time in his career and collected seven combined tackles (five solo) and a pass deflection during a 35–18 win at the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
in the NFC Wildcard Game. They were eliminated the following week after being defeated at the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
20–26 in the NFC Divisional round.
He became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after the Green Bay Packers decided not to offer him a new contract despite setting career-high number in tackles and starts in 2015. The decision surprised Hayward and
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears foo ...
but was considered reasonable by members of Packers media coverage. He received interest from a few teams, including the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
,
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
,
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
,
and
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...
.
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers
2016
On March 13, 2016, the
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...
signed Hayward to a three–year, $15.30 million contract that includes $6.80 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $2.50 million.
Throughout
training camp
A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...
, Hayward competed for the job as the starting outside cornerback against
Brandon Flowers
Brandon Richard Flowers (born June 21, 1981) is an American musician. He serves as the co-founder, lead vocalist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional bassist of the Las Vegas-based rock band the Killers, which he formed with Dave Ke ...
. Head coach
Mike McCoy named Hayward the starting nickelback to begin the regular season. He was also named the third cornerback on the depth chart, behind
Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers.
On September 11, 2016, he made his Chargers' debut and started in the
San Diego Chargers' season-opener at the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
Established in 1959 ...
and recorded four combined tackles (two solo) and defended two passes in the Chargers' 33–27 loss. On September 18, 2016, Hayward collected four solo tackles, two pass break ups, and intercepted
Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback
Blake Bortles twice in their 38–14 victory. In Week 5, Hayward collected a season-high eight solo tackles in San Diego's 34–31 loss at the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...
. On October 30, 2016, he recorded three combined tackles (two solo), a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by
Trevor Siemian to
Jordan Norwood and returned it 24–yards for a touchdown in a 27–19 loss at the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
. The following week, he made three combined tackles (two solo), a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by
Marcus Mariota
Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota (born October 30, 1993) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks footb ...
during a 43–35 win against the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...
. In Week 13, Hayward made one pass deflection and set a career-high with his seventh interception of the season off a pass thrown by
Jameis Winston in a 21–28 loss to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
. On December 20, 2016, he was named to his first
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
. He finished the season with 58 combined tackles (51 solo), 20 pass deflections, seven interceptions, and a touchdown in 16 games and 14 starts. He finished first in the league with seven interceptions and second with 20 passes defensed and was named second-team All-Pro. He was also ranked 64th on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
The San Diego Chargers finished last in the
AFC West
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, ...
with a 5–11 record and head coach Mike McCoy was fired. The team also relocated to Los Angeles during the off season.
2017
Former
Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator
Anthony Lynn was hired as the Chargers' new head coach. Hayward entered camp as the ''de facto'' starting cornerback after Brandon Flowers was released. Head coach Anthony Lynn officially named Hayward and Jason Verrett the starting cornerbacks to start the regular season.
On September 11, 2017, Hayward started in the
Los Angeles Chargers' season-opener against the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
on ''Monday Night Football'' and recorded four combined tackles (three solo), a pass break up, and fumble recovery during their 24–21 loss. During the third quarter, Hayward recovered a fumble by
Jamaal Charles after it was forced by Chargers' linebacker
Korey Toomer. The following week, Hayward collected a season-high five combined tackles (three solo) during a 19–17 loss to the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
. On October 1, 2017, Hayward made one solo tackle and a career-high five pass deflections during a 24–26 loss to the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
. On November 19, 2017, he made four solo tackles, three pass deflections, and a season-high two interceptions off pass thrown by
Nathan Peterman as the Chargers routed the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...
54–24. On December 19, 2017, Hayward was named to his second Pro Bowl. He finished the season with a total of 40 combined tackles (33 solo), a career-high 22 pass break ups, and four interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.
Pro Football Focus gave Hayward an overall grade of 96.4. His overall grade was first among all qualifying cornerbacks for 2017 and PFF also voted him the top coverage defender of the season.
He was ranked 59th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
2018
On March 11, 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers signed Hayward to a three–year, $33.25 million contract extension that includes $20.00 million guaranteed and an initial signing bonus of $8.00 million.
The contract is worth up to $36 million with incentives and keeps Hayward under contract through the 2021 season.
On November 4, 2018, Hayward made a season-high five solo tackles and one pass deflection during a 25–17 loss at the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...
. He started in all 16 games in the
2018 NFL season
The 2018 NFL season was the 99th season of the National Football League (NFL) and the 53rd of the Super Bowl era. The season began on September 6, 2018, with the NFL Kickoff Game with the defending Super Bowl LII champion 2018 Philadelphia Eag ...
and produced 46 combined tackles (41 solo) and eight pass deflections.
2019
He entered training camp slated as the ''de facto'' No. 1 starting cornerback following the departure of
Jason Verrett. Defensive coordinator
Gus Bradley
Paul Casey "Gus" Bradley (born July 5, 1966) is an American football coach who is the current assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Indian ...
named Hayward and
Michael Davis the starting cornerbacks to begin the regular season.
In week 2 against the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
, Hayward recorded his first interception of the season off
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford (born February 7, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs football, Georg ...
in the 13–10 loss. On October 20, 2019, he recorded a season-high five combined tackles (four solo) as the Chargers lost 23–20 at the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...
. In Week 8, Hayward made two solo tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by
Mitchell Trubisky intended for tight end
Trey Burton during a 17–16 victory at the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
. He started all 16 games during the
2019 NFL season and accrued a total of 32 combined tackles (28 solo), eight pass deflections, and two interceptions.
2020
He returned as the Chargers' No. 1 starting cornerback and was paired with
Chris Harris Jr.
On September 13, 2020, Hayward started in the Los Angeles Chargers' season-opener at the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
and recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles and made two pass deflections during the 16–13 win. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 1. He was inactive for a Week 12 loss at the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...
after injuring his groin. In Week 16, Hayward recorded one solo tackle, a pass deflection, and made his first interception of the season off a pass thrown by
Drew Lock
Paul Andrew Lock (born November 10, 1996) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers football, Missou ...
before exiting the game with a hamstring injury as the Chargers defeated the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
19–16. He was subsequently sidelined for the Los Angeles Chargers' Week 17 victory at the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
Established in 1959 ...
.
On January 1, 2021, Hayward was placed on injured reserve. He finished the season with 41 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception.
2021
On March 13, 2021, the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...
released Hayward.
Las Vegas Raiders
On May 4, 2021, the
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West ...
signed Hayward to a fully guaranteed one–year, $2.50 million contract that includes a $1.00 million signing bonus.
He was reunited with his defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers from the previous season, Las Vegas Raiders' defensive coordinator
Gus Bradley
Paul Casey "Gus" Bradley (born July 5, 1966) is an American football coach who is the current assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Indian ...
. He entered training camp projected to be the No. 2 starting cornerback ahead of
Damon Arnette,
Amik Robertson,
Rasul Douglas, and
Nate Hobbs. Head coach
John Gruden named Hayward a starting cornerback to begin the season, alongside
Trayvon Mullen.
On September 26, 2021, Hayward made four solo tackles and earned the first safety of his career for two points after tackling wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle in the end zone during the first quarter of a 31–28 victory against the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
. On October 11, 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach John Gruden after multiple controversies and named special teams coordinator
Rich Bisaccia as the interim head coach. In Week 12, he collected a season-high six combined tackles (five solo) as the Raiders won 36–33 at the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
. On January 9, 2022, Hayward made three solo tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass thrown by
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks football, Orego ...
to wide receiver Mike Williams during a 35–32 win against his former team, the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...
. He started all 17 games during the
2021 NFL season and recorded a total of 46 combined tackles (39 solo), nine pass deflections, and one interception.
Atlanta Falcons
2022
On March 17, 2022, the
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
signed Hayward to a two–year, $11.00 million
contract
A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves consent to transfer of goods, services, money, or promise to transfer any of thos ...
that included $6.00 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
of $4.00 million.
Throughout training camp, he competed to be a starting cornerback against
Dee Alford,
Mike Ford, and
Isaiah Oliver. Head coach
Arthur Smith named him the No. 2 starting cornerback to begin the season, alongside No. 1 starting cornerback
A. J. Terrell.
On September 18, 2022, Hayward made two solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass thrown by
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford (born February 7, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs football, Georg ...
to tight end
Tyler Higbee as the Falcons lost 27–31 at the
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
. On October 18, 2022, the Atlanta Falcons placed Hayward on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 6. He finished the
2022 NFL season with a total of 17 combined tackles (14 solo), three pass deflections, and one interception in six games and six starts.
On April 21, 2023, Hayward was released with a failed physical designation.
NFL career statistics
Regular season
Postseason
Personal life
Hayward was raised in
Perry, Georgia
Perry is a city in Houston County, Georgia, Houston and Peach County, Georgia, Peach counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat of Houston County. The population was 13,839 at the 2010 census, up from 9,60 ...
, by his parents Casey and Tish Hayward and began playing youth football when he was five years old.
His mother Tish died from breast cancer in July 2016.
On November 27, 2017, it was reported that Hayward's younger brother, Jecavesia Hayward, died after a
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Cam ...
he was a passenger in crashed into a tractor trailer that was stopped in the emergency lane on Interstate 75. His brother was ejected from the vehicle and hit by passing vehicles. Hayward was allowed to leave the team's facilities and immediately traveled home to be with his family.
Philanthropy
Hayward is involved in many philanthropic endeavors and started his own charity aptly named the Hayward's Hands Foundation. Through the Hayward's Hands Foundation, Hayward donates scholarships to teenagers in his hometown that display hard work and dedication to school, athletics, and to their community. On May 5, 2015, he awarded two $5,000 scholarships to two female students that attend his high school alma mater. Hayward also announced his foundation will continue to award scholarships to students and agreed to pledge $50,000.
References
External links
Vanderbilt Commodores bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayward, Casey
1989 births
Living people
Players of American football from Houston County, Georgia
People from Perry, Georgia
American football cornerbacks
Vanderbilt Commodores football players
Green Bay Packers players
San Diego Chargers players
American Conference Pro Bowl players
Los Angeles Chargers players
Las Vegas Raiders players
Atlanta Falcons players