Highlights
"The Gale from Kansas" had a career that spanned only 62 games and parts of seven seasons but he amassed one of the most remarkable records of any back in NFL history. He is considered by many to be the best pure runner ever because of a running style that one NFL Hall of Fame defender described as being able "to run full speed, turn on a dime, and make change." Sayers won rookie of the year honors in 1965, edging out teammate and draftmate Dick Butkus, as he scored 22 touchdowns that included a record-tying six in one game vs. San Francisco. Sayers averaged 5 yards per carry for a career that was severely curtailed by a serious right knee injury in 1968 and ended by another to his left knee...
"The Gale from Kansas" had a career that spanned only 62 games and parts of seven seasons but he amassed one of the most remarkable records of any back in NFL history. He is considered by many to be the best pure runner ever because of a running style that one NFL Hall of Fame defender described as being able "to run full speed, turn on a dime, and make change." Sayers won rookie of the year honors in 1965, edging out teammate and draftmate Dick Butkus, as he scored 22 touchdowns that included a record-tying six in one game vs. San Francisco. Sayers averaged 5 yards per carry for a career that was severely curtailed by a serious right knee injury in 1968 and ended by another to his left knee in 1970. He ranks fourth all-time in Bears rushing, posted 20 games of 100 or more yards in his career and set 23 Bears records and seven NFL marks. He became the youngest player (34) ever elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and went on to a successful post-football career with his own computer firm.
Displaying items 1-12 of 45
» View amNY.com items only
1
2
3
4
•
Next >
-
Forte's aim: Smash average stats of other rookie Bears backs
Tribune ReporterOne set of numbers took Matt Forte by surprise. A scroll through Bears history showed how Walter Payton, the franchise's career rushing leader with 16,726 yards, finished with no yards on eight carries in his rookie debut. "I'm hoping to do better...Tags: San Francisco 49ers, National Football League, Baltimore Colts, Fred Taylor, Walter Payton
-
Hall of Fame QB to check out Orton
Len Dawson was one of the pioneer passing sensations at "Quarterback U" a half century ago. The Pro Football Hall of Famer will be monitoring closely the progress of fellow Purdue alum Kyle Orton, who has won the starting nod with the Bears. "I have...Tags: Carlos Marmol, Wine, Beer, and Spirits, Kyle Orton, Clubs and Associations, Geovany Soto
-
Hype surrounds Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour
Chicago Tribune reporterThe hypemobile revved after Dan LeFevour became just the second Division I player to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. The first: Vince Young. It picked up speed after a college football preview magazine called him "the best...Tags: Comerica Incorporated, Bronko Nagurski, Bill Walsh, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Walter Payton
-
Cubs built better than in '84
The Cubs are 31 games over .500 for the first time since 1984. That '84 team, of course, came agonizingly close to reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945, losing a best-of-five NL Championship Series to the San Diego Padres after...Tags: Carlos Marmol, Baltimore Colts, Geovany Soto, Jeff Samardzija, Peyton Manning
-
Devin Hester is back on the field catching passes and making returns
Chicago Tribune reporterBOURBONNAIS — Devin Hester's new contract has $15 million in guaranteed money, a statement by the Bears recognizing what Hester has accomplished as a kick returner. But could the end be in sight for Hester's days as a returner? If Hester...Tags: Glyn Milburn, Lovie Smith, Jerry Azumah, Leon Johnson, Football
-
Harden trade recalls Brock-Broglio fiasco for Cubs
The Cubs made an unforgettable midseason trade, acquiring a proven starting pitcher in exchange for three players, the most intriguing a speedy but light-hitting young outfielder. That six-player deal was consummated 44 years ago. The Cubs are hoping the...Tags: Dan Hampton, Eric Patterson, Restaurant and Catering Industry, San Francisco Giants, Scott Eyre
-
Fred Mitchell Around Town column
The Cubs had a club-record seven players selected for the July 15 All-Star Game in New York. It was 20 years ago—July 12, 1988—when the Cubs had six players in the All-Star Game that was played at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati and won by...Tags: U.S. Cellular Field, Multi-Sport Events, Gabby Hartnett, Greg Maddux, Billy Herman
-
Sayers: Halas would have bounced Benson long ago
Cedric Benson's story certainly is not unique in today's NFL as a disturbing pattern of entitlement appears to exist among many players coming out of college. The Bears took Gale Sayers with the fourth overall pick of the 1965 NFL draft. Forty years...Tags: National Football League, Kyle Orton, Football, Chicago Bears, Ernie Banks
-
Ask David Haugh
Tommie Harris got home from work early one night last week so he flipped on the 5 o'clock news. Suddenly the violence of his sport didn't seem so bad.
Harris cringed as he saw TV reports of 10-year-old Arthur Jones being shot and killed blocks from his...Tags: National Football League, Johnny Carson, Injuries, Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris
-
Ditka song hails ex-players
Sun reporterFootball fans don't think of red-faced, gravel-voiced Mike Ditka as a musician. But the former Chicago Bears coach said yesterday that he helped write a country song - he also does a voiceover - about aging NFL heroes tentatively called "Love of the Game....Tags: National Football League, Getty Images Incorporated, Baltimore Colts, Mike Ditka, Music
-
Upshaw asking Congress for help
Sun reporterNFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw asked Congress yesterday for assistance in improving a disability benefits system that retired players say repeatedly let them down when they were poor and ailing from old football injuries. "We have made great...Tags: Labor Legislation, National Football League, Baltimore Colts, Mike Ditka, National Government
-
Bear with Us
So I had a few things I planned on bringing in so I could have an especially goofy picture and/or lead-in. But they're sitting various places around my apartment because I don't have the strongest memory when I'm about to head to work 9½ hours after I...Tags: Roberto Garza, Diving, Ricky Manning Jr., Alex Brown, Desmond Clark
Sep 6, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 3, 2008
|Column| Chicago Tribune
Aug 27, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Aug 26, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 29, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 11, 2008
|Column| Chicago Tribune
Jul 8, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jun 11, 2008
|Column| Chicago Tribune
Oct 25, 2007
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 19, 2007
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Sep 19, 2007
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Oct 14, 2007
|Column| Chicago Tribune
Original site for Gale Sayers topic gallery.
