Hayden’s Story
The phoenix rises from the ashes.
An Overview
Drafted out of the Bolles School in 2012 by the Major League Baseball team the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hayden struggled with pitch control in the minor leagues, eventually spiraling into depression and alcohol and drug abuse.
Therapy and family support enabled Hayden to eventually pursue his passion – football. Hayden left the Pirates and baseball and walked on at the University of South Carolina in the summer of 2015.
There he would become the all-time leader in career receptions for a tight end, and grab the school record for most receptions and receiving yards in a season by a tight end. He became the first sophomore in school history to be elected team captain, and in 2017 was named first team All SEC tight end.
The Baltimore Ravens made him their first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Hayden was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Hayden spent the 2022 season as a Cincinnati Bengal, and in 2023, he came full circle back to his college days, signing a 3-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Jacksonville Born and Raised
The Hurst Family hails from Jacksonville, Florida. Hayden followed in his father, mother, and sister’s footsteps when he enrolled in The Bolles School where he excelled on the baseball field and only played a single season of football.
MLB Bound
In 2012, Hayden was drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After struggling with pitch control, he turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of his depression. While in therapy to try and work his way out of the “yips,” Hayden discovered journaling which he cites as one of his key mental health practices.
In 2015, Hayden officially stepped away from baseball and began his passionate pursuit to play football.
Garnet Thor is Born
After walking on to the University of South Carolina Football Team in 2015, Hayden found that he hadn’t outrun his depression. In 2015 he made an attempt on his life. While in the hospital he vowed he would never return to the state he found himself in.
With the help of family, friends, and his team, Hayden emerged stronger than ever. While at South Carolina, he broke numerous records and earned the nickname “Garnet Thor.”
Return to the Pros
In 2018, Hayden was selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He immediately asked his parents to retire to help him run a foundation for suicide prevention.
After two great seasons in Baltimore, Hayden was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He completed his contract with the Falcons at the end of the 2022 season and became a free agent. The Cincinnati Bengals signed Hayden to a one-year contract— he thrived in Cincy and was able to prove his talent. After one year as a Bengal, the Carolina Panthers signed Hayden to a 3-year contract bringing him full-circle back to the Carolinas where his college football career soared.