NFL: Former Bears running back Gale Sayers died of cancer at age 77

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CHICAGO – Gale Sayers, one of the most versatile running backs in NFL history and whose friendship with a Chicago Bears teammate with cancer was brought to the screen, has died at the age of 77.

Dubbed “the Kansas comet” and considered by his peers to be one of the best running backs on the wide side of the field, Sayers passed away on Wednesday, according to the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Those close to Sayers had previously indicated that he suffered from dementia. In March 2017, his wife, Ardythe, attributed her health problems to her football career.

Sayers has always been a conundrum for opposing defenses, breaking up tackles and avoiding them like very few running backs and kick return specialists before him. However, it was his friendship with Brian Piccolo, recounted in the American TV movie ‘Brian’s Song’, that allowed him to go beyond the limits of sport.

“He was the pure definition of a team player – quiet, responsible and always ready to congratulate a teammate on a key block,” said Hall of Fame President David Baker. Gale was an amazing man, who overcame a lot of obstacles in his NFL career and in his life. ”

He became a stockbroker, sports administrator, businessman and philanthropist for several organizations serving disadvantaged youth in Chicago after his football career, which was cut short by numerous serious knee injuries.

Sayers has been named to the College All-Star Team twice with the University of Kansas, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was then selected by the Bears as fourth in the NFL Draft in 1965, and his versatility allowed him to become a mainstay of their offense from the moment he arrived.

He tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game, and wrote a new one with 22 majors in his first season: 14 by running, six by air, one on a kickoff return and another on a return from a punt. Sayers was unanimously named the NFL rookie of the year that season.

Sayers did play for the Bears back when they were mediocre, however, as did Dick Butkus, and he never made the NFL playoffs. The American has played 68 career games in total, including just two in each of his last two seasons, as he tried to return to the game from numerous knee injuries.