When Casey Hayward began his decorated, 11-season NFL career back in 2012, the Perry, Georgia, native promised his mother he would complete their four-year plan—that he would return to Vanderbilt and finish his degree.
Good to his word, after his rookie season, Casey Sr. and Tish Hayward’s son earned his remaining credits, walked across the Commencement stage and received his degree in sociology.
But that wasn’t the end of his Vanderbilt story, and it isn’t the end of his Vanderbilt legacy.
Hayward has committed to supporting Vanderbilt Football and Vanderbilt Athletics with $1 million—among the largest gifts of its kind from a former student-athlete who played professionally and the largest ever from a football alumnus.
The gift also fuels Vanderbilt’s Dare to Grow campaign, which has revolutionized Vanderbilt Athletics with transformational support for major facilities, operational enhancements and scholarships and programs for student-athletes. Hayward’s commitment spans four philanthropic pathways:
- Bolstering the Vandy United initiative with support for capital improvements. In recognition of this contribution, Vanderbilt Football will dedicate the Casey Hayward Team Meeting Room.
- Creating an endowed scholarship for student-athletes, the Casey Hayward Athletic Scholarship.
- Establishing the Casey Hayward Fund to support student-athlete summer programming. This includes international study opportunities, which is important to Hayward, who continues to live out his lifelong travel dreams.
- Supporting all student-athletes through the Athletics General Fund.
An All-American defensive back for the Commodores who played with the Green Bay Packers, San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, Hayward wanted to give back in a manner that would serve student-athletes for years to come and inspire fellow alumni to get involved. And if earning his degree fulfilled a son’s promise to his mother, this gift is a father’s example to his own nearly 2-year-old son, Cash.
“You can see all the names around campus, all the family legacies. You see those names, and people understand who this person is and what they did for Vanderbilt,” Hayward said. “That’s how I want to be remembered. My son is going to grow up, and I want my name to be somewhere where he can see it and be proud of his dad. This is about giving back to Vanderbilt, and also a legacy for my son and my family.”
