Gale Sayers

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Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers has died at the age of 77, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday morning.
"All those who loved the game of football mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever play this game with the passing of Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers," Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. "He was the very essence of a team player—quiet, unassuming and always ready to compliment a teammate for a key block. Gale was an extraordinary man who overcame a great deal of adversity during his NFL career and life."
Sayers was an All-American at Kansas before being drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 1965 draft. He was nicknamed the "Kansas Comet." He was a four-time Pro Bowler in his career that spanned just 68 games due to injuries. He scored six touchdowns in a single game against the San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field in 1965. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
In 2017, Sayers' family
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about his battle with dementia. He sued the NFL in 2014 over concussions that led to "loss of memory, dementia, Alzheimer's, neirolohical disorder, depression, sleep problems and irritability" in his life after football.
Sayers received a standing ovation from Bears fans when he visited the team in June 2019 for the team's 100th anniversary celebration.


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Gale Sayers, one of the most electric NFL players of the 1960s, has died. He was 77 years old.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer was a brilliant running back and returner who spent only seven years in the league, all with the Chicago Bears, from 1965 to 1971.

Sayers is often cited as the predecessor to the modern-era running back who was more than just a bruiser between the tackles. His career 5.0-yards-per-carry rushing average was surpassed only by four true running backs ever — Jamaal Charles, Jim Brown, Mercury Morris and Marion Motley.

“The NFL family lost a true friend today with the passing of Gale Sayers,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Gale was one of the finest men in NFL history and one of the game's most exciting players. Gale was an electrifying and elusive runner who thrilled fans every time he touched the ball. He earned his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“We will also forever remember Gale for his inspiration and kindness. Gale's quiet unassuming demeanor belied his determination, competitiveness and compassion. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Ardie, and their family. Our thoughts are with his teammates, the Bears organization, the many fans who remember him as a football player and the many more people who were touched by Gale's spirit and generosity.”

Nicknamed the “Kansas Comet” after a brilliant college career with the Jayhawks, Sayers had one of the NFL’s all-time best rookie seasons after entering the league as the fourth overall selection in the 1965 NFL draft.

Sayers set a league record that first season by scoring 22 touchdowns — including a record-tying six in a single game — and gained 2,272 all-purpose yards, also throwing for a TD pass and running back one punt and one kickoff for scores in 14 games in 1965. He was named the NFL's Rookie of the Year and would earn four Pro Bowl appearances and five first-team All-Pro selections in his first five seasons.

Asked how he always seemed able to escape from traffic on the field and break open big runs, Sayers once said: “Just give me 18 inches of daylight. That’s all I need.”
 
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