Hayden fries hometown Bears with pick, TD
MIAMI -- Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden is a Bears fan again.
After starter Nick Harper reinjured his left ankle in the first half Sunday, Hayden stepped up. The 23-year-old Chicago native returned the first interception of his career for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put a dagger in the Bears' 29-17 loss to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
''Come [today], I can go back to being a Bears fan,'' Hayden said. ''They're in the NFC, we're in the AFC. Every time I go home, I read the papers and find out what's going on, what did Rex do.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
Hayden still lives in Chicago during the offseason. The 6-foot, 195-pounder grew up at 71st and Indiana and graduated from Hubbard High School, where he passed for 21 touchdowns as a sophomore quarterback.
He also attended Joliet Junior College and the University of Illinois, where coach Ron Turner -- now the Bears' offensive coordinator -- converted him from wide receiver to cornerback.
''I'm just so happy for our family,'' said Hayden, who was being trailed by his hoarse mother in front of the Colts' locker room. ''My family came up with nothing. I learned to work hard and learned about determination. My mom kept me humble.''
Hayden's interception- return touchdown was the 10th in Super Bowl history. At 56 yards, it was the fifth-longest interception return in a Super Bowl and the third-longest for a touchdown.
''I was just thinking about getting into the end zone,'' he said. ''I'm just blessed I was able to make the play.''
Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks said he wasn't surprised about Hayden's interception.
''We try to drill those things all the time,'' he said. ''When we get an interception in practice, we always try to take it all the way back for a touchdown. The good thing about that play was that once he got the interception, everyone turned and blocked, and we had a picket fence going to the goal line.''
Bears quarterback Rex Grossman said he threw the ball a little more inside than he wanted.
After playing quarterback at Hubbard, Hayden was a two-time all-conference wide receiver at Joliet.
''I've had the opportunity to play so many positions,'' he said. ''That has helped me in terms of anticipation.''
Hayden called the 32-year-old Harper his big brother on the team.
''I don't have much experience as a corner since I was a receiver in college,'' said Hayden, a second-year pro. ''I'm raw, but I have the talent.''
The Chicago connection continued when Colts owner Jim Irsay was presented with the Lombardi Trophy. He said he was thinking of his late father, Bob.
''Particularly since it was the Bears,'' Irsay said. ''We went to Bears games in the 1960s when I was a kid. Before we bought the Colts, that was our team. The fact that connection was there makes it even sweeter.''