Hayden attended Chicago's Hubbard High School, where he was a four-year starter in football. As a freshman cornerback, he was a first team All-PowerBar team selection and an All-Area selection after posting ten interceptions. As a sophomore quarterback, he passed for 21 touchdowns and rushed for seven more scores. As a junior tailback, he rushed for, and was an All-Conference pick and an All-Area selection. Hayden was a Chicago Bears fan during his youth.
Hayden attended Joliet Junior College for two years, where he finished his career with 115 receptions for 1,839 yards and 17 touchdowns and was a two-time All-Conference and an All-Region pick. After losing his first junior college game, he led Joliet JC to 21 consecutive victories and the 2002 NJCAANational Championship. As a sophomore, he was the NJCAA National Offensive National Player of the Year, won first team JC All-America accolades, and was named the Conference Player of the Year, after making 72 receptions for 1,297 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was also named the MVP of the 2002 NCAA National Championship game. As a freshman, he made 42 receptions for 542 yards and four touchdowns. He then transferred to Illinois.
University of Illinois
In 2003, Hayden led the Fighting Illini in receptions and receiving yards with 52 receptions for 592 yards. Prior to the 2004 season, he switched to cornerback. He started all 11 games and had 71 tackles and four interceptions.
Hayden was drafted in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Indianapolis Colts (2005–2010)
In his second season, Hayden recorded his first career interception in Super Bowl XLI when he took a Rex Grossman pass 56 yards for a touchdown, en route to a Colts 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. His stats as a Colt were 239 total tackles and 9 interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns. Hayden also scored a touchdown on a 26-yard fumble recovery in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2006 season.
Atlanta Falcons (2011)
Hayden had 16 total tackles and two interceptions during his one-year tenure in Atlanta.
Chicago Bears (2012–2014)
On April 5, 2012, he signed with the Chicago Bears on a 1-year contract worth $825,000. In Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, Hayden recovered two forced fumbles. In 2012, Hayden and four other players led the league in defensive fumble recoveries with four. Despite becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2013, on March 26, Hayden signed a one-year deal to return to the Bears. On August 7, 2013, the Bears announced that Hayden suffered a torn hamstring and would miss the entire 2013 season. The injury occurred during Family Fest practice at Soldier Field on August 3, 2013. Hayden was eventually placed on injured reserve. Hayden became a free agent after the 2013 season, but was resigned on February 28, 2014. On August 30, 2014, the Bears waived him along with others during their final roster cuts. On September 2, 2014, he was re-signed by the Bears to fill an opening on the roster when wide receiverMarquess Wilson was placed on injured reserve. On September 13, 2014, the Bears released him and two others as they needed to fill some depth due to multiple injuries.
Personal life
Hayden got engaged to Taraji P. Henson on May 13, 2018.
