Laird Hayes
| Laird Hayes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 3, 1949 Newport Beach, California |
| Nationality |
 United States |
| Occupation | NFL official (1995–Present) |
Dr. Laird Hayes (born in Newport Beach, California)[1] is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 1995 NFL season, who wears uniform number 125. He currently works as a side judge. For the 2014 NFL season, Hayes is the side judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Carl Cheffers.[2]
Hayes graduated from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Hayes earned his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in New Jersey and in 1971 and he was awarded a Master's and Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1976.
He played on football, basketball and baseball teams in high school, which prepared him for an athletic performance at Princeton. He played on the freshman football team and four years as a catcher for the Princeton Tigers baseball team.
Hayes' officiating career started with basketball, baseball, and football games in high school and community colleges. In 1983, he was elevated to the Pac-10 as a football official. This was followed with a 1995 appointment to the National Football League roster of officials and his designation as a side judge. During his career in the NFL, he has officiated in three Super Bowls: XXXVI in 2002, XXXVIII in 2004, and XLVI in 2012 (where he made a call which might be consider one of the greatest calls in Super Bowl history). He also officiated at the 2006 Pro Bowl.
Currently, Hayes is the Men's Soccer Coach and Professor of Education and Athletics at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, a post he has held since 1976. He teaches First Aid/CPR, surfing, bowling, soccer, and weight training.
Hayes is Director of the Quarterback and Receiver Camp (QBR) in its 46th year of non-contact, football fundamentals training for youth players, grades 6 through 12. QBR schedules six summer camps held in California, New Jersey, Arkansas, Indiana and Georgia.