Haywood Jeffires

Haywood Jeffires

Haywood Jeffires is a former American professional National Football League wide receiver who played primarily for the New Orleans Saints and briefly for the Houston Oilers in the late 1980s and 1990s. Known for his combination of route-running and physicality, he earned a Pro Bowl selection and contributed to the Saints' first sustained period of competitiveness under head coach Jim Mora and general manager Jim Finks. He played collegiately at the University of North Texas (then North Texas State University) and was a third-round selection in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Early life and education

Born in Robstown, Texas, Jeffires attended high school in the Corpus Christi area, where he competed in football and track while growing up in coastal Nueces County, Texas. He played high school football in the same state that produced numerous NFL talents from programs such as Permian High School and Klein High School and drew regional attention from scouts for his athleticism. He matriculated to North Texas State University to study and play for the North Texas Mean Green under collegiate coaches who had produced NFL players linked to the Cotton Bowl Classic and other postseason appearances.

College career

At North Texas State University, Jeffires developed as a leading receiver for the Mean Green offense, featuring in games against University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University and other programs in the Southwest Conference era scheduling and regional nonconference matchups. He earned conference recognition and statistical leadership that attracted attention from NFL Scouting Combine attendees and pro scouts from franchises including the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, Washington Redskins and New York Giants. His collegiate production placed him among other notable receivers from Texas schools such as Michael Irvin (Miami), Ernie Mills and contemporaries who transitioned to professional careers in the NFL Draft.

Professional career

Selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Jeffires joined a roster navigating the post-strike 1987 season under head coach Jim Mora. He became part of a receiving corps that included teammates and contemporaries who linked the Saints' aerial attack to the broader evolution of passing offenses in the National Football League. Jeffires posted multiple seasons with over 700 receiving yards, culminating in a Pro Bowl selection for the 1992 Pro Bowl after a campaign that highlighted his chemistry with quarterbacks and contributions to the Saints' playoff pursuits. During his tenure, he played alongside and competed against notable players and teams such as Warren Moon, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. After eight seasons in New Orleans, Jeffires spent his final NFL year with the Houston Oilers in 1995 before retiring amid the league's mid-1990s personnel shifts and franchise realignments that included relocations and management changes involving franchises like the Tennessee Titans (formerly Oilers).

Playing style and legacy

Jeffires combined elements of precise route-running, contested-catch ability and yards-after-catch toughness, traits often compared to contemporaries such as Michael Irvin, Sterling Sharpe, Andre Rison and Henry Ellard. His style contributed to the Saints' transition from a run-oriented identity to a more balanced, pass-capable offense during the Mora era and reflected wider NFL trends toward pass-heavy schemes exemplified by teams like the San Jose State Spartans alumni in professional ranks. Jeffires' Pro Bowl nod and statistical output—receptions and receiving yards amassed across multiple seasons—solidified his reputation among Saints alumni and in retrospectives alongside franchise figures like Wade Wilson, Brett Favre (as a contemporary icon), and executive architects such as Jim Finks. He is remembered in Saints histories that document the team's first playoff appearances and cultural milestones in New Orleans sports history.

Personal life and post-football career

After retiring from the NFL, Jeffires has been associated with activities typical of former players including community engagement and involvement in regional sports programming linked to media outlets in New Orleans, Houston, and Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. He has participated in alumni events with organizations such as the New Orleans Saints alumni associations and charity initiatives interacting with institutions like the United Way and local youth sports programs. Jeffires' life after football has intersected with business, coaching clinics, and public appearances at events related to the NFL alumni network and former-player advocacy groups, connecting him to broader post-career conversations involving players from the 1980s and 1990s eras.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Houston Oilers players Category:North Texas Mean Green football players Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players