In the end, Piccolo died of cancer while Sayers pushed on. [80] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. But Sayers received the punt and ran 58 yards through the middle of the field for the score. A right knee injury forced Sayers to miss the final five games of the 1968 season, but he returned in 1969 to lead the NFL in rushing yards and be named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. [2], Sayers was recruited by several major Midwestern colleges before deciding to play football at the University of Kansas. Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers is known for his dazzling athleticism. [29] He also led the Bears in receiving with 34 catches, 447 yards, and two more touchdowns. Gale Sayers, Who Inspired TV Movie 'Brian's Song,' Dies At 77 . [22][23] He accounted for 326 yards in the game: 113 rushing, 89 receiving, and 134 on punt returns. [60] Mike Ditka, a teammate of Sayers' for two seasons, called him "the greatest player I've ever seen. [62][63][64] Showcasing his breakaway talents, throughout his Pro Bowl career he achieved runs of 74, 52, 51, 48, and 42 yards. [49] Sayers carried only six times for nine yards before further injuring his knee. [4] In his rookie year, he scored an NFL-record 22 touchdowns: 14 rushing, six receiving, and one each on punt and kickoff returns. [83] In 1994, Sayers was selected for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as both a halfback and a kickoff returner; he was the only player selected for multiple positions. As a sophomore in 1962, his first year on the varsity team, Sayers led the Big Eight Conference and was third in the nation with 1,125 rushing yards. Natural wood or black or white bamboo frames. Only rarely returning punts—he returned three all season—Sayers still managed to return one for a score against the San Francisco 49ers, a game in which he also returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and scored a rushing touchdown on a rain-soaked field in San Francisco's Kezar Stadium. Four hand colors. [87] After suffering from dementia for several years,[88] Sayers died on September 23, 2020, at the age of 77. [89], 1968–1969: Right knee injury and comeback season, 1970–1971: Left knee injury and retirement, Sports administration and business career, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, In every season from 1950 to 1965, the annual rushing yards leader was a, Southern Illinois Salukis athletic directors, Tennessee State Tigers and Lady Tigers athletic directors, Kansas City Chiefs first-round draft picks, "Roger Sayers – No. That's all I need. [17], Against the Minnesota Vikings on October 17, Sayers carried 13 times for 64 yards and a touchdown; caught four passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns; and had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in the 45–37 Bears victory. Gale Sayers: Pos: RB, Career: 68 G, 56 TD, 4956 Yds, 5.0 Y/A (8th), 5xAll-Pro(1st), 4xProBowl, Bears 1965-1971, 2x Yds Leader, born KS 1943, died 2020 Site Menu Give now!. popculture.com . [48] He sat out the next two games and returned in Week 4 against the Vikings, but he was still visibly hampered, most evidently when he was unable to chase down Vikings defensive lineman Alan Page during a 65-yard fumble return. For the third time in as many Pro Bowl performances, he was named the "Back of the Game". Following his NFL career, Sayers began a career in sports administration and business and served as the athletic director of Southern Illinois University from 1976 to 1981. [73] The case was withdrawn after Sayers initially claimed it was done so because the case was filed without his permission, but was actually withdrawn due to other litigation that Sayers was involved in at the time. 4 months ago. [72], In September 2013, Sayers reportedly sued the NFL, claiming the league negligently handled his repeated head injuries during his career. During his off time, Sayers took classes to become a stockbroker and became the first black stockbroker in his company's history. [30] He surpassed his rookie season's kick return numbers, averaging 31.2 yards per return with two touchdowns. After consulting his wife, he decided he would rather play in Chicago, signing with George Halas's Bears. It stated he was sometimes sent back into games after suffering concussions, and that the league did not do enough to protect him. [36] In 2009, Sayers joined the University of Kansas Athletic Department staff as Director of Fundraising for Special Projects. In a November game against the Detroit Lions, a cutback by Sayers caused future hall of fame cornerback Lem Barney to fall over, after which Sayers sprinted for a 63-yard gain. In Halas's final season as an NFL coach, Sayers again starred. He was 77. CHICAGO — Gale Sayers, the dazzling and elusive running back who entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite the briefest of careers and whose fame extended far beyond the field for decades thanks to a friendship with a dying Chicago Bears teammate, has died. He moved, maneuvering out of seemingly impossible spots. In a relatively brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. He moved into second place on the Bears' all-time rushing yards list, passing Bronko Nagurski. Roger, his older brother, was a decorated college track and field athlete. [3] During his Jayhawks career, he rushed for 2,675 yards and gained a Big Eight Conference-record 4,020 all-purpose yards. Informations relatives à votre compte, à votre appareil et à votre connexion internet, y compris votre adresse IP, Informations relatives à votre navigation et historique de recherche lors de l’utilisation des sites web et applications de Verizon Media. Both men were on the Chicago Bears team, and they pushed each other to be superior. chicago tribune. [1] Gale graduated from Omaha Central High School, where he starred in football and track and field. Celebrate the storied career of your all-time favorite gridiron legend with this Nike Game jersey. Sep 24, 2020 - Gale Sayers is one of the greats to ever step on the field for the Chicago Bears. [24] Sayers was the consensus choice for NFL Rookie of the Year honors from the AP,[25] UPI,[26] and NEA. [28], In his second season, Sayers led the league in rushing with 1,231 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry with eight touchdowns, and becoming the first halfback to win the rushing title since 1949. A fine all-around track athlete, he set a state long jump record of 24 ft 10.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}1⁄2 in (7.58m) as a senior in 1961. Menu His number 48 jersey is one of three retired by the Kansas Jayhawks football team. Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame tailback for the Chicago Bears, has died at age 77. Next Slideshows . He was known for his elusiveness and agility and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle. Piccolo helped Sayers through rehabilitation after injury, and Sayers was by Piccolo's side throughout his illness until his death in June 1970. En cliquant sur « Tout accepter », vous consentez à ce que Verizon Media et ses partenaires stockent et/ou accèdent à des informations sur votre appareil par l’intermédiaire de cookies et technologies similaires, et traitent vos données personnelles, afin d’afficher des publicités et contenus personnalisés, mesurer les performances des publicités et contenus, analyser les audiences et développer les services. In 1964, his senior year, he led the Jayhawks to a 15–14 upset victory over Oklahoma with a 93-yard return of the game's opening kickoff for a touchdown. While being interviewed during a broadcast of a Chicago Cubs game on September 8, 2010, Sayers said he had originally intended to go to the University of Iowa. [70], In 1984, Sayers founded Crest Computer Supply Company in the Chicago area. "[40] Sayers had again been leading the league in rushing yards through the first nine games, and finished the year with 856 yards. "[21] On December 12, Sayers tied Ernie Nevers' and Dub Jones' record for touchdowns in a single game, scoring six in a 61–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers that was played in muddy conditions at the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field. His jersey number is retired by both the Bears and the University of Kansas. [69] He resigned from his position at Southern Illinois in 1981. He was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team as a halfback and kick returner, the only player to occupy two positions on the team. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and was the only player to gain over 1,000 rushing yards that year. Gale Eugene Sayers (May 30, 1943 – September 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was both a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL).
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