A subsequent injury to his left knee during the following season left him completely ineffective to perform as the extraordinary darting running back of his previous years. He retired officially from active play in at the age of Yet in his retirement he left an impressive set of statistics in the NFL record books, including all-time leader of kickoff touchdown returns.
While his right knee recuperated in , Sayers wrote an autobiography entitled I Am Third, and in he collaborated with Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese in writing a manual called Offensive Football, which was published by Atheneum. Sayers, who lacked only 10 credits toward his bachelor's degree when he signed with the Chicago Bears, completed his undergraduate work at KU in his retirement. He earned a post-graduate degree in education from that same institution and served as assistant athletic director at his alma mater, beginning in He also held a post as director of the school's Williams Educational athletic Fund.
In Sayers became athletic director at Southern Illinois University. Sayers was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in On July 30 of that same year he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in what was his first year of eligibility following his retirement.
Crest Computer Supply, renamed Sayers Computer Source, expanded into reselling and system integration by In addition to his financial ventures and other responsibilities, Sayers contributes articles as a columnist to the Chicago Daily News. He is the father of one daughter and five sons. His community involvement and board memberships encompass social welfare groups and athletic corporations. Among them, he served as an honorary chairman of the American Cancer Society. Sayers also served as alumni spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
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All rights reserved. See the glossary for more information. Rush Yds Minimum 6. Minimum rushes to qualify as career leader. TD Career Player Split Finder. In , Sayers was in the midst of arguably his best season before a serious knee injury altered the course of his career.
While he was physically not the same player, Sayers, with the help of Piccolo, willed himself back onto the field in , winning Comeback Player of the Year honors after leading the league in rushing for a second time. Sayers' comeback didn't last long, however, as another knee injury kept him sidelined for all but two games in After an ankle injury limited him to just two games in , Sayers decided to retire before the start of the season.
As great as he and Butkus were, the duo never played in a playoff game, as the Bears -- who won the NFL title two years before drafting Butkus and Sayers -- never finished higher than second in their division with the two Hall of Famers on their roster.
In fact, the '65 season was the only year that saw Chicago post a winning record with Butkus and Sayers on the team. At 34, Sayers remains the youngest player to receive induction. His No. Sayers still owned 20 team records at the start of the season.
A major injury to Sayers' left knee in was too much for him to overcome, and he retired in His career numbers of 4, yards and 39 touchdowns on the ground came primarily over five seasons, as he played sparingly in and ' As a returner, Sayers was also devastating, scoring six touchdowns and averaging more than 30 yards per kickoff return, with two touchdowns and Legendary Bears coach George Halas, as he presented Sayers for his Hall induction, said, "If you want to see perfection as a running back, you best get ahold of a film of Gale Sayers.
He was poetry in motion. His like will never be seen again. Yet it was his rock-steady friendship with Brian Piccolo, depicted in the film "Brian's Song," that marked him as more than a sports star.
The friendship between Sayers and backfield mate Piccolo began in , when the two became unlikely roommates. Sayers was Black and already a star; Piccolo was white and had worked his way up from the practice squad. Early on, they were competing for playing time and carries. But when the club dropped its policy of segregating players by race in hotel room assignments, they forged a bond. In , Piccolo helped Sayers through a tough rehab process while he recovered from a torn ligament in his right knee.
After Sayers returned the next season to become an All-Pro, he made sure his friend shared in the credit. They became even closer after Piccolo pulled himself out of a game early in the season because of breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with cancer. That phase of their friendship was recounted first by Sayers in his autobiography, "I Am Third," and then in the movie "Brian's Song.
Sayers stayed by Piccolo's side as the illness took its toll, donating blood and providing support. Just days before Piccolo's death age 26, Sayers received the George S. Halas Award for courage and said: "You flatter me by giving me this award, but I can tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo.
I love Brian Piccolo and I'd like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.
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