Professional football linebacker Gerald Hayes plays for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League.

The Arizona Cardinals selected him as the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the Cardinals' starter at middle linebacker before he had a knee injury that made him miss the entire 2005 season. He became a restricted free agent, signed a one-year qualifying offer with the Cardinals and came back big leading his team in tackles. On November 6, 2006, he signed a five-year contract with the team that will keep him under contract through 2011.Official Team Site: Gerald Hayes Bio

Hayes spent his collegiate years at University of Pittsburgh from 1999-2002http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2008FBMediaGuide.pdf, where he was a three-time first-team All-Big East Conference selection and the first Panther defender to record three consecutive 100-tackle seasons since All-America linebacker Jerry Olsavsky. He was a college teammate of Cardinals teammate Larry FitzgeraldOfficial Team Site: Gerald Hayes Bio

Hayes attended Passaic County Technical Institute in high school in Paterson, N.J.http://www.nfl.com/players/geraldhayes/gamelogs?id=HAY169450 As an artist in high school, Hayes won numerous awards for his pencil drawings shown in numerous galleries around New Jersey.http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Gerald-Hayes/b6b4580b-abfc-423a-9472-5b305cdff12d

Hayes played in 14 games with 13 starts for the Cardinals. He finished with 62 tackles and one forced fumble. Hayes had four tackles in Arizona's 51-45 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild-Card Round of the playoffshttp://www.nfl.com/players/geraldhayes/gamelogs?id=HAY169450 but did not play in the 45-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional playoffs because of an ankle injury.http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/01/16/anquan-boldin-gerald-hayes-inactive-for-cardinals/

Hayes started 14 of 16 games and all four postseason contests, recording his third straight 100-plus tackle season. He finished third on the team with 107 tackles during the regular season and set a career-high with four forced fumbles. Hayes led the Cardinals and tied career-high with 14 tackles, including 11 solos, and one tackle for loss against the Washington Redskins on September 21. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors by recording 12 tackles, one tackle for a loss, a half-sack and two forced fumbles against the St. Louis Rams on December 7. Hayes posted his first career postseason interception in Arizona's 33-13 win over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Divisional Playoff round on January 10. He recorded seven tackles during Arizona's 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Gerald-Hayes/b6b4580b-abfc-423a-9472-5b305cdff12d

Hayes started all 16 games and recorded a career-high 115 tackles for the Cardinals. He was second only to [[Karlos Dansby} on the team in tackles. He returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in a 48-19 victory over the St. Louis Rams on December 30. Hayes was one of five team captains.http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Gerald-Hayes/b6b4580b-abfc-423a-9472-5b305cdff12d