David Jaynes Born: December 12, 1952 (Kansas City, KS)
Graduated: Bonner Springs High School, 1970; University of Kansas, 1974; Pepperdine University (M.S.),

The sign outside the football stadium at Bonner Springs High School is hardly subtle. Standing over five feet wide, the sign announces to all who enter that the stadium is the “Home of the Braves.” However, the sign also informs visitors of the heritage of one of the community’s greatest athletes; an athlete who dazzled the crowds with his lethal arm.
Quarterback David Jaynes, the namesake of David Jaynes Stadium in Bonner Springs, was one of the most highly recruited Kansas football stars of the late 1960s. Many of the nation’s top programs called on him during his high school career including Stanford, the University of Miami, and the University of Alabama. Yet, Jaynes turned down the offers from far and wide to stay near his hometown and play for the University of Kansas.
It was rare that such a sought after quarterback eluded college football’s heavy hitters like Alabama coach Bear Bryant, and Jaynes lived up to the hype while playing for the Jayhawks.
Jaynes was thrust into the leadership role early in his sophomore season when he showed glimpses of greatness but came into his own during his junior year when he set KU’s season passing yardage with 2,253 yards and season passing touchdown records with fifteen.
Having one great season in major college football and breaking long-standing school records is quite an accomplishment but legends are made by following up a great season with another one.
During his senior year in Lawrence under head coach Don Fambrough, Jaynes did just that. In 1973, he led the Jayhawks to a record of 7-4-1 and a berth in the Liberty Bowl while piling up 2,131 yards, which ranked fourth nationally, and thirteen touchdowns.
Jaynes’ numbers were good enough to thrust the long-haired Jayhawk quarterback into the national spotlight. He was a first-team All-Big 8 selection, a first-team All-America selection, and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting for that year.
Jaynes’ stellar career numbers put him at or near the top of the list of all Jayhawk quarterbacks in numerous passing records, including career passing yardage, career touchdowns, career attempts, and career completions. In fact, his school record of thirty-five career touchdown passes stood for over thirty-four years and he still ranks second today.
His senior season in crimson and blue had vaulted Jaynes to the top of many draft boards in the various professional football leagues at the time. He was selected in the third round of 1974 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, just days after being the number one overall pick of the Houston Texans of the now defunct World Football League. Once again, like Jaynes had done in making his decision on where to play college football, he chose to stay close to home and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jaynes professional career was cut short by injuries and arm fatigue, but no one can deny his greatness. Just ask those attending a home football game on a Friday night in Bonner Springs at the stadium that bears his name…
Today, Jaynes lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Barbara. He owns and operates a private business that specializes in corporate and private jet leasing.