Kelvin Hayden

Kelvin Darnell Hayden, Jr. (born July 28, 1983) is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois.

Hayden has also played for the Atlanta Falcons. He returned a Rex Grossman interception 56 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. It was his first career interception.

Early years
Hayden attended Hubbard High School in Chicago, and was a four-year starter in football. As a freshman cornerback, he was a first team All-PowerBar team selection and an All-Area selection after posting ten interceptions. As a sophomore quarterback, he passed for 21 touchdowns and rushed for seven more scores. As a junior tailback, he rushed for 2135 yd, and was an All-Conference pick and an All-Area selection.

Hayden was a Chicago Bears fan during his youth.

Joliet Junior College
Hayden attended Joliet Junior College for two years, where he finished his career with 115 receptions for 1,839 yards (16.13 yards per rec. avg.) and 17 touchdowns and was a two-time All-Conference and an All-Region pick. After losing his first junior college game, he led Joliet JC to 21 consecutive victories and the 2002 NJCAA National Championship.

As a sophomore, he was the NJCAA National Offensive National Player of the Year, won first team JC All-America accolades, and was named the Conference Player of the Year, after making 72 receptions for 1,297 yards(18.1 yards per rec. avg.) and 13 touchdowns. He was also named the MVP of the 2002 NCAA National Championship game. As a freshman, he made 42 receptions for 542 yards (12.9 yards per rec. avg.) and four touchdowns. He then transferred to Illinois.

University of Illinois
In 2003, Hayden led the Fighting Illini in receptions and receiving yards with 52 receptions for 592 yards. Prior to the 2004 season, he switched to cornerback. He started all 11 games and had 71 tackles and four interceptions.

Professional career
Hayden was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and played there for his first six years before signing with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2011 NFL season.

During his time in Indianapolis, Hayden recorded his first career interception on Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman in Super Bowl XLI, which he took 56 yard for a touchdown, en route to a Colts 29-17 victory. His stats as a Colt were 239 total tackles and 9 interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns. Hayden also scored a touchdown on a 26-yard fumble recovery in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2006 season.

Hayden had 16 total tackles and two interceptions during his one year tenure in Atlanta.

On April 5, 2012 he signed with the Chicago Bears on a 1-year contract worth $825,000. In Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, Hayden recovered two forced fumbles. In 2012, Hayden and four other players led the league in defensive fumble recoveries with four.