Tae Hayes

Tae Hayes's Biography

Ke’Montae Tayvon Hayes, nicknamed “Tae”, has had a career filled with an undulating journey that has been interspersed with breakthroughs, challenges, and memorable moments. Born on August 19, 1997, he rose to prominence as an American football cornerback and swiftly earned the honor of being a free agent.

Hayes set his football voyage into motion while playing college football at Appalachian State, where he honed his skills and sharpened his tactics for intercollegiate competition.

Upon graduating, Hayes soon found his place with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. However, his stint was brief, as he was released before the start of the 2019 season. Despite this setback, Hayes never allowed his spirit to falter. He later signed with the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster to replace renowned wide receiver Marqise Lee, who was unable to play due to an injury. Unfortunately, Hayes’ journey with the Jaguars ended abruptly when he was waived on December 12, 2019.

Barely 24 hours after his release, Hayes was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins. His tumultuous journey continued as he was waived by the Dolphins in September 2020. Undeterred, Hayes returned to the practice squad two days later only to be elevated to the active roster for weeks 3 and 8 games against the Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams. He was again relegated to the practice squad after each game and subsequently released in November 2020.

Following this, Hayes found a new home at the Minnesota Vikings when he signed with their practice squad in December 2020. His persistence paid off when he was elevated to the active roster two days into 2021. Unfortunately, this glory was short-lived as he was waived by the Vikings in March.

Hayes then signed with the Arizona Cardinals in May 2021, only to be waived in August the same year. However, he swiftly bounced back, signing with the Carolina Panthers practice squad in December 2021. Hayes was selected with the second pick of the ninth round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Birmingham Stallions.

In August 2022, Hayes returned to the Panthers but was waived later that month. Despite this, he remained resilient and was signed back to the practice squad the next day, from where he was promoted to the active roster in October. His journey with the Panthers ended with his release in December.

On December 27, 2022, Hayes joined the New England Patriots practice squad. He was signed to the active roster within a week. On January 6, 2023, Hayes celebrated his signing of a two-year contract with New England. However, he was waived soon after in February 2023. Astonishingly, Hayes returned to the Patriots in May 2023, only to be waived once again in June.

Hayes’ career took another turn in August 2023 as he signed with the Detroit Lions. However, his journey with the Lions was brief, culminating in being waived within a week. Shortly after, Hayes was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens but was subsequently released. He rejoined the practice squad in September, only to be released eight days later. In October, he signed with the New York Jets practice squad and secured a reserve/future contract in January 2024. However, his journey with the Jets was cut short by his release in June 2024.

Off the field, Hayes faced a legal issue on June 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Alabama for marijuana possession. He was subsequently released after posting a $300 bond.

Throughout his career, Hayes’ passion, grit, resilience, and commitment to the sport have been indisputable. His journey is a testament to the fact that the path to success is not always smooth, but it is the determination to keep going that truly defines one’s character.