Where are they now? Jonathan Hayes

Jonathan Hayes played football at the University of Iowa from 1981 to 1984. Hayes played linebacker on defense his first two years at Iowa before switching to play tight end for Hayden Fry’s Hawkeyes as a junior and senior. Hayes was named a team captain as a senior and also earned first-team All-American honors in 1984. The Hawkeyes played in four consecutive bowl games during Hayes’ career at Iowa (’82 Rose, ’82 Peach, ’83 Gator, ’84 Freedom) that ended in grand fashion with a 55-17 win over Texas in the 1984 Freedom Bowl. During that win Hayes caught 3 passes for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns in what would end up being a record setting day for the Hawkeye offense and quarterback Chuck Long. Jonathan Hayes was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2nd round of the 1985 NFL Draft. Hayes played nine seasons with the Chiefs before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994. He would play his final three seasons in Pittsburgh before retiring from the NFL at the end of the 1996 season. Hayes completed his NFL career with 153 receptions for 1,718 career yards and 13 touchdowns. He also played in Super Bowl XXX as a member of the Steelers against the Dallas Cowboys. After his playing days ended, Hayes started a career in coaching spending four years with the Oklahoma Sooners staff from 1999 to 2002. Hayes served as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator alongside former Iowa teammates Bob Stoops and Chuck Long at Oklahoma. Under their guidance the Sooners would win the National Championship in 2000. Jonathan Hayes is currently tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Hayes joined the Bengals staff prior to the 2003 season and this season will mark his sixth with Cincinnati. The Bengals will open the 2008 regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens on September 7th.