Leo Hayden

Leophus Hayden Sr. (born June 2, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1973. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals

As a rookie with the Vikings in 1971 Hayden played almost exclusively on special teams and did not have a single rushing attempt. Hayden later acknowledged that his play was impacted by drug use, and he was cut by the Vikings after one season. But during the Fire's training camp in June he was arrested on a bad check warrant.

After his football career ended, Hayden founded the "National Center for Violence Interruption," a program designed to prevent urban violence. As of 2021, Hayden was director of the inmates re-entry program for New Orleans Parish Louisiana.