Sayers, Gale (1943-2020), ranks among the greatest running backs in football history. Sayers won fame for his dazzling long runs, whether as a ball carrier from the line of scrimmage, as a pass receiver, or when returning kickoffs and punts.
Gale Eugene Sayers was born in Wichita, Kansas, on May 30, 1943. He attended the University of Kansas, where he was an All-American running back. Sayers weighed 200 pounds (91 kilograms) and stood 6 feet (183 centimeters) tall. The Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) drafted Sayers with the fourth selection in the first round in 1965. He became a sensation as a rookie, exciting fans with his speed and elusive runs. In his first season, Sayers tied an NFL record by scoring six touchdowns in a single game. Sayers led the NFL in rushing in 1966 with 1,231 yards and again in 1969 with 1,032 yards.
Sayers’s brilliant career was cut short by a knee injury in 1970 that led to his retirement at the start of the 1972 season. Although he played only four full seasons of professional football, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He was the youngest person to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Sayers died on Sept. 23, 2020.
