Charles Haley
Charles Haley joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1986 as the team’s fourth round draft pick.
He developed into one of the NFL’s most devastating pass rushers during a career split between the
49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
He is the only player in NFL history to win five Super Bowls. Haley was a member of two
49ers’ championship teams (Super Bowls XXIII and XXIV) before his trade to Dallas. He earned three
more Super Bowl rings during his first four seasons with the Cowboys.
Haley began his NFL career at linebacker and led San Francisco in sacks in each of his first
six seasons. He recorded four double-digit sack totals with the 49ers including 12 sacks as a rookie
and a career-high and NFC-leading 16 sacks in 1990.
He was moved to defensive end after his trade to Dallas and continued to excel at pressuring
the quarterback. He added two more double-digit sack seasons in 1994 and 1995. Haley then
suffered a serious back injury in 1996 that limited him to just five games. He retired after undergoing
surgery.
However, after a two-year hiatus, Haley resigned with the 49ers as a backup defensive end for
two playoff games in 1998. He came back to play one final season in 1999 and added three sacks to
his career total.
When he walked away for the final time, Haley had amassed 100.5 sacks during his 169-game
career. He was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1990 and 1994), voted to five Pro
Bowls and named All-Pro two times, once as a linebacker and once as a defensive end.
He played in six NFC championship games over a seven-season period. He started at left
outside linebacker for the 49ers in the 1988, 1989, and 1990 games and at right defensive end for the
Cowboys in the conference championships in 1992, 1993, and 1994. He was inactive for the
Cowboys’ victory in the 1995 NFC Championship Game.
Haley was a member of 10 division championship teams during his 12-season NFL career. His
final season marked the only year he played on a team with a losing record. Prior to that, the fewest
number of wins in a season any 49ers and Cowboys team recorded with Haley on the roster was 10.
Charles Haley
Defensive End/Linebacker – 6-5, 242 – James Madison
1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys (12 playing seasons)
Biographical Background
Full Name: Charles Lewis Haley
Birthdate: January 6, 1964
Birthplace: Gladys, Virginia
High School: William Campbell (Naruna, VA)
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 169 games
Drafted: 4th round (96th player overall) in 1986 by San Francisco
Career Statistics
Year
Team
1986
San Francisco
1987
San Francisco
1988
San Francisco
1989
San Francisco
1990
San Francisco
1991
San Francisco
1992
Dallas
1993
Dallas
1994
Dallas
1995
Dallas
1996
Dallas
1998
San Francisco
1999
San Francisco
Career Total
G
16
12
16
16
16
14
15
14
16
13
5
Sacks
No.
12.0
6.5
11.5
10.5
16.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
12.5
10.5
1.0
Post-season only
16
169
3.0
100.5
Additional Career Statistics: Interceptions: 2-9;
Safeties: 1; Fumble Recovery for TD: 1
All-League Teams
All-Pro: 1990 LB (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW) • 1994 DE (AP, PFWA, SN)
All-NFC: 1988 LB (UPI) • 1990 LB (UPI, PW) • 1994 DE (UPI, PW)
All-NFC Second Team: 1995 DE (UPI)
LB
Linebacker;
DE
Defensive End
Pro Bowls
(5) – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996
Charles Haley, Page 2
In the NFL Record Book (at time of his retirement following 1999 season)
•
[3rd] Most Sacks, Rookie Season – 12.0 (1986)
Super Bowl Records
• [1st] Most Game, Winning Team – 5
• [1st] Most Sacks, Career – 4.5
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Games Played – 5
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Sacks, Game – 2 (Super Bowl XXIII)
Postseason Records
• [3rd] Most Sacks, Career – 11.0
Team Records
49ers records held by Haley
(Records through the 1999 season, Haley’s final season with San Francisco (note: 49ers media guide
includes players sacks prior 1982, the year in which the sack became an official sack))
•
[3rd] Most Sacks, Career – 66.5
Postseason Records
•
[3rd] Most Sacks, Career – 7.5
Cowboys records held by Haley
(Records through the 1996 season, Haley’s final season with Dallas (note: Cowboys media guide includes
players sacks prior 1982, the year in which the sack became an official sack))
None
League/Team Statistical Titles
NFC Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1990
Team Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1986 S, 1987 S, 1988 S, 1989 S, 1990 S, 1991 S, 1994, 1995
S
San Francisco 49ers
All other titles with Dallas Cowboys
Awards and Honors
•
•
1990 NFC Defensive Player of the Year (UPI)
1994 NFC Defensive Player of the Year (UPI)
Charles Haley, Page 3
Year-by-Year Team Records
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
San Francisco 49ers .......... 10-5-1 (1st)
San Francisco 49ers .......... 13-2-0 (1st)
San Francisco 49ers .......... 10-6-0 (1st)
San Francisco 49ers .......... 14-2-0 (1st)
San Francisco 49ers .......... 14-2-0 (1st)
San Francisco 49ers ............ 10-6-0 (3rd)
Dallas Cowboys .................. 13-3-0 (1st)
(Division Finish in Parentheses)
Qualified for Postseason in Bold
1993
1994
1995
1996
1998
1999
Dallas Cowboys .................. 12-4-0
Dallas Cowboys .................. 12-4-0
Dallas Cowboys .................. 12-4-0
Dallas Cowboys .................. 10-6-0
San Francisco 49ers ........... 12-4-0
San Francisco 49ers ............. 4-12-0
(1st)
(1st)
(1st)
(1st)
(2nd)*
(4th)
* Haley played in the postseason only
Championship Games
1988 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 28, Chicago Bears 3
Haley started at left outside linebacker. He had five tackles and one fumble recovery.
1989 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3
Haley started at left outside linebacker.
1990 NFC – New York Giants 15, San Francisco 49ers 13
Haley started at left outside linebacker. He had three tackles and one sack.
1992 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20
Haley started at right defensive end. He had one tackle and one pass defensed.
1993 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 38, San Francisco 49ers 21
Haley started at right defensive end. He had two tackles and one assist, one sack, one pass
defensed and one forced fumble.
1994 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 38, Dallas Cowboys 28
Haley started at right defensive end. He had two tackles.
1995 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 38, Green Bay Packers 27
Haley was not active for this game.
Charles Haley, Page 4
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXIII – San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
Haley started at left outside linebacker. He had six tackles, two sacks and one tackle on
special teams.
Super Bowl XXIV – San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10
Haley started at left outside linebacker. He had one tackle and two passes defensed in the
game.
Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
Haley started at right defensive end. He had five tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
Super Bowl XXVIII – Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
Haley started at right defensive end. He had two tackles, two assists and registered half a
sack.
Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Haley started at right defensive end. He recorded three tackles, one assist and one sack.
Media Guide Excerpts
1999 San Francisco 49ers Media Guide biography
DOES NOT INCLUDE HALEY’S FINAL SEASON (1999)
CAREER: One of the most gifted pass rushers of all time re-joins the 49rers ...As a member of the 49ers and later the Dallas
Cowboys, Haley became the only player in NFL history to win five Super Bowl Championships…A four-time PRO BOWLER
Haley enters 1999 with 97.0 career sacks…Returned to 49ers in 1998 postseason after missing previous two years… Retired
in 1996 following back surgery... Had 58 tackles and 11 sacks in postseason career...Has registered 10-or-more sacks six
times during his career.
ACQUIRED: Signed by 49ers (7-21-99) as free agent...Signed by 49ers (1-2-99) as free agent ... Originally selected in fourth
round (No. 96 overall) by 49ers in 1986 NFL draft...Traded to Dallas (1992) and spent four seasons with Cowboys before
retiring (back) in 1996 season.
1998: (With San Francisco) Joined 49ers for two postseason games...After being away from football for over two years, had
immediate impact on 49ers’ defense...Appeared as reserve defensive end and recorded two tackles, three quarterback
pressures and one pass defensed...His pressure on QB Brett Favre in third-quarter resulted in 17-yard interception return by
LB Lee Woodall…Appeared as reserve defensive end vs. Atlanta (1-9) in NFC Divisional Playoff Game and deflected one
pass that was intercepted by DT Junior Bryant.
1997: Did not play/retired.
1996: (With Dallas) Appeared in five games before retiring with back injury...Played in Weeks 1, 2, 3, 9, and 10...Recorded
seven tackles and one sack in his five games.
1995: (With Dallas) Posted 35 tackles and 10.5 sacks...Missed five games after suffering disc injury vs. Washington (12-3)
and having surgery (12-6)...Returned to play in Super Bowl XXX...Recorded five tackles, one sack and three quarterback
pressures in 27-17 win over Steelers to earn fifth Super Bowl ring... His 10.5 sacks marked sixth time in career he has
recorded double-digit sacks.
1994: (With Dallas) Returned from offseason back surgery (microscopic lumbar diskectomy) to record 68 tackles and 12.5
sacks...Paced Cowboys with 52 QB pressures...Earned First Team All-Pro honors and fourth career PRO BOWL invitation
...Recorded CAREER-HIGH four sacks vs. Pittsburgh (9-4)...Recorded three sacks and five tackles vs. Philadelphia (124)...Had six tackles, one sack and nine QB pressures in Thanksgiving Day victory over Green Bay (11-24).
Charles Haley, Page 5
1993: (With Dallas) Appeared in 14 games and finished with 41 tackles, 4.0 sacks, two passes defensed and three forced
fumbles...Recorded two sacks against 49ers (10-17)...Recorded first interception since rookie season against Green Bay (19-94) in NFC Divisional Playoff Game…Picked up fourth Super Bowl ring with victory against Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl
XXVIII.
1992: (With Dallas) Acquired by Dallas (8-27-92) in trade with 49ers...Played 13 games and appeared in 15...Missed Phoenix
game (11-22) with groin injury...Recorded 39 tackles. Six sacks and 42 QB pressures...Recorded six tackles in Super Bowl
XXXII win over Buffalo Bills (1-31-93).
1991: (With San Francisco) Earned PRO BOWL honors after recording 53 tackles seven sacks six passes defensed and two
forced fumbles...Recorded season high seven tackles against Minnesota (9-15)...Posted seven tackles and three sacks at
Philadelphia (10-27)...Missed Phoenix game (11-17) with hamstring injury.
1990: (With San Francisco) Led NFC and finished third in NFL with CAREER-HIGH 16.0 sacks...Earned second career PRO
BOWL honor...Recorded 11 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defensed against Houston (10-7)...
Recorded four multiple sack games on season...Finished season with 58 tackles and nine passes defensed.
1989: (With San Francisco) Recorded 57 tackles and 10.5 sacks... Posted 11 tackles, three sacks and forced fumble against
Jets (10-29) ...Returned fumble for touchdown against Atlanta (11-12)...Had four tackles including one sack vs. Green Bay
(11-19).
1988: (With San Francisco) Totaled 69 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 16 games...Made first start at left outside linebacker at New
Orleans (9-4) and recorded five tackles and one sack…Posted six tackles and three sacks at Chicago (10-24)…Named NFC
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF MONTH (October)...Had six tackles and two sacks vs. Cincinnati (1-22-89) in Super Bowl
XXIII...Earned first career PRO BOWL nomination.
1987: (With San Francisco) Led team with six sacks... Finished with 25 tackles... Played in 12 games and made two
starts...Had two tackles and one sack in NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Minnesota (1-9-88).
1986: (With San Francisco) Led team in sacks with 12 as rookie...12 sacks were second in NFL…for rookies (Leslie O'Neal,
12.5)...Also recorded 59 tackles, three passes defensed and four forced fumbles.
COLLEGE: Earned Division II All-America honors as senior at James Madison...Never missed a game as four-year starter at
linebacker... Finished career with 506 total tackles, 17 sacks and three interceptions.
PERSONAL: Born Charles Lewis Haley (1-6-64) in Gladys. VA...Three-sport star at William Campbell High in Naruna,
VA...He and wife Karen have three children: Princess Kay (11-18-88), Charles, Jr. (10-12-90) and Brianoa (1-1594)...Daughter Brianna has leukemia...Haleys created The Brianna Haley Fund to raise resources, awareness and
recruitment of minorities to join National Marrow Donor Program...Charles served as co-chair (with wife) of Lend A Hand
program to raise money for Marrow Foundation.
Charles Haley Sacks by Game
Games with a sack
Multi-sack games
Record when Haley recorded a sack
Record when Haley recorded more than one sack
Date
Sept. 14, 1986
Sept. 21, 1986
Oct. 5, 1986
Oct. 12, 1986
Oct. 26, 1986
Nov. 2, 1986
Nov. 17, 1986
Nov. 23, 1986
Dec. 19, 1986
Sept. 13, 1987
Sept. 20, 1987
Nov. 8, 1987
Nov. 29, 1987
Dec. 6, 1987
Dec. 14, 1987
Sept. 4, 1988
Sept. 11, 1988
Sept. 25, 1988
Oct. 2, 1988
Oct. 9, 1988
Oct. 24, 1988
Oct. 30, 1988
Dec. 4, 1988
Sept. 17, 1989
Sept. 24, 1989
Oct. 8, 1989
Oct. 15, 1989
Oct. 29, 1989
Nov. 19, 1989
Dec. 3, 1989
Dec. 24, 1989
Sept. 10, 1990
Sept. 23, 1990
Oct. 7, 1990
Oct. 14, 1990
Oct. 21, 1990
Opponent
at Los Angeles Rams (L, 13-16)
New Orleans Saints (W, 26-17)
Indianpolis Colts (W, 35-14)
Minnesota Vikings (L, 24-27)
at Green Bay Packers (W, 31-17)
at New Orleans Saints (L, 10-23)
at Washington Redskins (L, 6-14)
Atlanta Falcons (W, 20-0)
Los Angeles Rams (W, 24-14)
at Pittsburgh Steelers (L, 17-30)
at Cincinnati Bengals (W, 27-26)
Houston Oilers (W, 27-20)
Cleveland Browns (W, 38-24)
at Green Bay Packers (W, 23-12)
Chicago Bears (W, 41-0)
at New Orleans Saints (W, 34-33)
at New York Giants (W, 20-17)
at Seattle Seahawks (W, 38-7)
Detroit Lions (W, 20-13)
Denver Broncos (L, 13-16)
at Chicago Bears (L, 9-10)
Minnesota Vikings (W, 24-21)
at Atlanta Falcons (W, 13-3)
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W, 20-16)
at Philadelphia Eagles (W, 38-28)
at New Orleans Saints (W, 24-20)
at Dallas Cowboys (W, 31-14)
at New York Jets (W, 23-10)
Green Bay Packers (L, 17-21)
at Atlanta Falcons (W, 23-10)
Chicago Bears (W, 26-0)
at New Orleans Saints (W, 13-12)
Atlanta Falcons (W, 19-13)
at Houston Oilers (W, 24-21)
at Atlanta Falcons (W, 45-35)
Pittsburgh Steelers (W, 27-7)
71
24
59-12 (SF: 41-9; DAL 18-3)
22-2 (SF: 12-2: DAL 10-0)
Sack(s)
1.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
1.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
2.0
Charley Haley, game‐by‐game sacks
Oct. 28, 1990
Nov. , 4, 1990
Nov. 18, 1990
Dec. 3, 1990
Dec. 9, 1990
Dec. 17, 1990
Dec. 30, 1990
Sept. 2, 1991
Sept. 8, 1991
Oct. 27, 1991
Dec. 14, 1991
Dec. 23, 1991
Sept. 7, 1992
Nov. 1, 1992
Dec. 6, 1992
Dec. 21, 1992
Oct. 17, 1993
Oct. 31, 1993
Dec. 12, 1993
Sept. 4, 1994
Sept. 11, 1994
Nov. 20, 1994
Nov. 24, 1994
Dec. 4, 1994
Dec. 10, 1994
Dec. 24, 1994
Sept. 10, 1995
Sept. 17, 1995
Oct. 15, 1995
Oct. 29, 1995
Nov. 6, 1995
Nov. 12, 1995
Sept. 8, 1996
Sept. 27, 1999
Dec. 12, 1999
San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys
CAREER TOTAL:
Cleveland Browns (W, 20-17)
at Green Bay Packers (W, 24-20)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W, 31-7)
New York Giants (W, 7-3)
at Cincinnati Bengals (W, 20-17)
at Los Angeles Rams (W, 26-10)
at Minnesota Vikings (W, 20-17)
at New York Giants (L, 14-16)
San Diego Chargers (W, 34-14)
at Philadelphia Eagles (W, 23-7)
Kansas City Chiefs (W, 28-14)
Chicago Bears (W, 52-14)
Washington Redskins (W, 23-10)
Philadelphia Eagles (W, 20-10)
at Denver Broncos (W, 31-27)
at Atlanta Falcons (W, 41-17)
San Francisco 49ers (W, 26-17)
at Philadelphia Eagles (W, 23-10)
at Minnesota Vikings (W, 37-20)
at Pittsburgh Steelers (W, 26-9)
Houston Oilers (W, 20-17)
Washington Redskins (W, 31-7)
Green Bay Packers (W, 42-31)
at Philadelphia Eagles (W, 31-19)
Cleveland Browns (L, 14-19)
at New York Giants (L, 10-15)
Denver Broncos (W, 31-21)
at Minnesota Vikings (W, 23-17)
at San Diego Chargers (W, 23-9)
at Atlanta Falcons (W, 28-13)
Philadelphia Eagles (W, 34-12)
San Francisco 49ers (L, 20-38)
New York Giants (W, 27-0)
at Arizona Cardinals (W, 24-10)
Atlanta Falcons (W, 26-7)
1.0
1.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
4.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
1.0
66.5
34.0
100.5