To The Kansas Comet,
GALE SAYERS
born May 30, 1943
Hall Of Fame Class of 1977
Halfback 6-0, 198
(Kansas)
1965-1971 Chicago Bears
Kansas All-American ... Exceptional break-away runner ... Scored rookie record 22 TDs, 132 points, 1965 ... Led NFL rushers, 1966, 1969 ... Named all-time NFL halfback, 1969 ... All-NFL five straight years ... Player of Game in three Pro Bowls ... Career totals: 9,435 combined net yards, 4,956 yards rushing, 336 points ... NFL lifetime kickoff return leader ... Born May 30, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas.
Gayle was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft.
In 68 games he had 991 rushes for 4956 yards (5.0 ypc) and 39 Rushing TDs - 112 rec for 1307 yards and 9 Rec TDs - 27 Punt Ret for 391 yards and 2 PR TDs - 91 Kick Ret for 2781 yards and 6 KR TDs... For a Total of 9,435 yards and 56 TDs.
He was a First Team All-Pro 5 times, and 4 Time Pro Bowler.
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=188
Gale Sayers burst upon the pro football scene in 1965 with the kind of an impact that the sport had not felt in many years. It is difficult to imagine a more dynamic debut than the one he enjoyed as a rookie. In his first heavy pre-season action, he raced 77 yards on a punt return, 93 yards on a kickoff return, and then startled everyone with a 25-yard scoring pass against the Los Angeles Rams.
In regular season, he scored four touchdowns, including a 96-yard game breaking kickoff return, against the Minnesota Vikings. And, in the next-to-last game, playing on a muddy field that would have stalled most runners, Gale scored a record-tying six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. Included in his sensational spree were an 80-yard pass-run play, a 50-yard rush and a 65-yard punt return. For the entire season, Gale scored 22 touchdowns and 132 points, both then-rookie records.
Quiet, unassuming, and always ready to compliment a teammate for a key block, Sayers continued to sizzle in 1967 and well into the 1968 season. Then, in the ninth game, Sayers suffered a knee injury that required immediate surgery.
After a tortuous rehabilitation program, Gale came back in 1969 in a most spectacular manner, winding up with his second 1,000-yard rushing season and universal Comeback of the Year honors. But injuries continued to take their toll and, just before the 1972 season, Gale finally had to call it quits.
In his relatively short career, he compiled a record that can never be forgotten. His totals show 9,435 combined net yards, 4,956 yards rushing, and 336 points scored. At the time of his retirement he was the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff returns. He won All-NFL honors five straight years and was named Offensive Player of the Game in three of the four Pro Bowls in which he played.
:clap::bears:
Feel free to add cool pics if you have any....
