The last time Arizona State fans saw cornerback Mike “Luxury” Haynes in maroon and gold, he was helping lead the 1975 ASU football team to the school’s only undefeated season (12-0), a Fiesta Bowl victory and the best finish ever of any Sun Devils squad with a No. 2 national ranking. He then became a first-round NFL draft selection by the New England Patriots.

As a Sun Devil, he earned All-America honors twice and All-Western Athletic Conference honors three times. Haynes is one of only 12 consensus All-Americans in the history of the Sun Devils program, and his 11 interceptions in 1974 still stands as the second-most in school history. Those accomplishments helped earn him enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame as well as a retired number at Sun Devil Stadium.

During his 12-year professional career, he spent time with both the Patriots and the Los Angeles Raiders. In 1997, Haynes was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But in the 32 years since he last took the field as a Devil, Haynes has been busy off the gridiron, not only excelling as a businessman, but giving back to the community at every chance, as well.

While he was playing for the New England Patriots, Haynes returned to Arizona State University in 1982 and graduated with a degree in finance from the since renamed W.P. Carey School of Business. In 1993, he decided to give back to the school and the university, so he began helping to organize the annual Mike Haynes ASU Golf Classic, which benefits the scholarship fund he set up. Haynes now co-sponsors a scholarship in which he donates about $10,000 a year to help students pursue a degree from the business school.

“I’ve been very fortunate, and this was a great way to give back,” Haynes said. “These scholarships go to kids who are from underrepresented groups in the business school, and it helps them reach their goal of earning a degree. I had the opportunity to spend some time with some of our recipients this past May at graduation, and we also have a young woman enrolled in the school right now who is on the scholarship.”

The business school recognized him in 2001 by awarding him its Distinguished Achievement Award, presented to leaders who have attained distinction in a profession or field, and who have made significant contributions to the development of the W.P. Carey School of Business.

Following his retirement from football, Haynes briefly spent time as a sports broadcaster before he accepted an executive position with Callaway Golf Company in its licensing department in 1994. He was soon elevated to vice president; in 2001, he became the head of the recreational golf development department at the firm, leading efforts to help expand and grow the game of golf through outreach to new markets and demographics.

However, Haynes soon felt the allure of football calling his name again, and he left Callaway in 2002 to take a job with the NFL league office as the vice president of player and employee development, a position which he still holds.

“It’s really exciting for me because I get to meet and work with all these different NFL players from different backgrounds, and I get the chance to help them and watch them develop, not only as players, but as individuals,” Haynes said. “There are so many things I love about this job, but the thing I like most about it is that the issues that we help our players deal with are the same issues we see in society. Our hope is that the players come to us and learn how to cope with these issues, and that they are then able to go out and help other people in their hometowns overcome the same problems that they have.”

In this role, Haynes oversees the league’s efforts to help its players, and their family members, grow as individuals through programs and services that aid in continuing education, financial education, career internships, and assistance and counseling services.

“What motivates me is that I know how difficult it is, the challenges you face and the sacrifices it takes, to be a successful player in the NFL,” Haynes said. “When I get the chance to work with a player, I want to make sure that he is happy with the decisions he has made in his life. The best way for me to do that is to make sure that he is successful off the field and is able to use the skills that he has learned from us.”

Haynes is also very active with the NFL Alumni, which is a group of former and current players that gives back through community service work and fundraisers to help benefit charitable causes for children. Haynes recently started a new chapter of the NFL Alumni in Connecticut, where he makes his home, and helped organize the chapter’s fundraising events.

“‘Caring for kids’ is the motto of the organization, and it’s just an incredible opportunity to give back and provide a way for young people to improve their lives,” Haynes said. “It not only gives me the opportunity to get involved in the community, but it gives a lot of us former players the opportunity to see each other again and work together. We get to reminisce and share old war stories, so it’s a great time for everyone.”

This past April, the NFL Alumni organization presented Haynes with its Career Achievement Award. Impressed with his poise as a top executive, not only at Callaway but also with the NFL, the organization presented him with the award at its annual Evening with the Legends Dinner, which was part of the organization’s Annual Convention and Super Bowl of Golf event.

“I think that I am way too young to be receiving career achievement awards at this point,” Haynes joked. “But even so, I am very honored by this award. I’ve been involved in the NFL Alumni for many years, both as a current and former player, because I really like their mission. For them to feel that I deserved this award was very humbling for me.”

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