The Kansas Comet — the most elusive running back in NFL history, whose career ended after just 68 games.
Gale Eugene Sayers was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1943. The Bears selected him fourth overall in 1965 — alongside Dick Butkus in the same draft. In his first season he scored 22 touchdowns — the NFL record at the time. His combination of elusiveness, acceleration and open-field vision was the finest the sport had seen. He suffered two serious knee injuries that ended his career at 28. He played just 68 NFL games. His friendship with Brian Piccolo — whose death from cancer is depicted in the film Brian's Song — is one of professional sport's most celebrated individual stories of interracial friendship during the civil rights era.
Pro Bowl 5x
Career Honours
- Pro Bowl 5x
- NFL Comeback Player of Year 1969
- Hall of Fame 1977