Gale Sayers

Gale Eugene Sayers (May 30, 1943 – September 23, 2020), nicknamed the "Kansas Comet", was an American football player. He earned fame both as a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL).

In a brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play.^[1]

Prior to joining the Bears, he played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks football team of the University of Kansas, where he compiled 4,020 all-purpose yards over three seasons and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American.

Sayers was born in Wichita, Kansas. He was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He studied at the University of Kansas.

In 2012, Sayers was diagnosed with dementia after suffering multiple concussions during his football career.^[2]

Sayers died from problems caused by dementia on September 23, 2020 in Wakarusa, Indiana at the age of 77.^[3]

1. ↑ "Bears' Gale Sayers Rookie Of The Year". The Brownsville Herald. United Press International. December 22, 1965. p. 13. Retrieved February 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. ↑ John Garcia (March 19, 2017). "FAMILY OF GALE SAYERS, FORMER BEARS PLAYER, TALKS ABOUT HIS DEMENTIA". ABC. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
3. ↑ George, Vecsey (September 23, 2020). "Gale Sayers Dies; Elusive Hall of Fame Running Back Was 77". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.