Saturday, 23 November 2024

Gale Sayers

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football
Statistics: 5 First Team All-Pros (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 & 1969)
4 Pro Bowls (1965, 1966, 1967 & 1969)
2 Rushing Titles (1966 & 1969)
Two-Time All-American (1963 & 1964)
4,956 NFL Rushing Yards
1,307 NFL Receiving Yards
54 NFL Touchdowns
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
Number retired by the Chicago Bears
Number retired by the University of Kansas
Named to the 1960s All-Decade Team
Named to the NFL 50th Anniversary Team
Named to the NFL 75th Anniversary Team
Named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team
One of the most explosive running backs in NFL history, Gale Sayers was a two-time All-American at Kansas who still boasts the rookie record for Touchdowns (22). A two-time Rushing Champion, Sayers received MVP votes in his first five seasons with the Chicago Bears and was considered the best RB in the game following Jim Brown's retirement. Sayers's ability to change speeds at a dime made it difficult for him to grab, and once he had an open field, it was light out. Sadly, as he was the only significant offensive weapon that the Bears had, all attention was on Sayers, making his accomplishments more impressive.
A devasting knee injury in the 1970 pre-season was the catalyst for the Running Back playing only four more games over the rest of his career, but his prime was so potent that he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, and remains the youngest to do so at 34.
We are proud to nominate Gale Sayers for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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