September 23rd, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
Also R.I.P Road Warrior Animal
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
Wow. They’re both gone now.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 AM ^
A great one gone. Rest in peace.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:47 AM ^
My dad swore up and down that Gale Sayers was the best running back he ever saw play
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
Being an old SOB I grew up watching Sayers and Jim Brown in their primes. Nobody at that time had the combo of speed, agility, and ankle-breaking broken-field ability like Sayers.
Shoes put it best: he was Barry before Barry.
Growing up a Lions fan, I can testify that he made life miserable for Detroit twice a year.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
I watched him back then, too, and yes, he was Barry before Barry, but with more speed. NOBODY caught Sayers from behind.
September 23rd, 2020 at 6:02 PM ^
Gale also returned kickoffs and punts. One of the most electrifying players ever in the NFL.
RIP Mr. Sayers ?
September 24th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
He certainly was, neighbor!
September 23rd, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
WOW..It didn't take long for the NFL from jumping all over this video and ban it. Assholes can't let anything slide for one day. I feel no guilt using my sons college credentials to get NFL Sunday ticket on the cheap. Fuck'em.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
A lot of our fathers were convinced he was the most electric runner they ever saw in person.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
LOL, i read this twice and thought you wrote prison both times! ugggh, i need glasses!
"A lot of our fathers were convinced he was the most electric runner they ever saw in prison."
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
In some respects he was Barry before Barry. The two of them were the most electrifying running backs I have ever seen.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
Putting aside the, you know, double homicide and all, I'd say the best Gale Sayers comp was O.J. Simpson. Both had that beautiful gliding stride and sugar smooth cuts.
If Barry Sanders was a Porsche, Gale Sayers was a Ferrari.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:50 AM ^
I am Third. To most fans of his generation. He was First! May God Bless Him!
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
First adult book that I read, think at age 9. Great story that is even more important today.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:52 AM ^
Wow, the hits just keep on coming.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:55 AM ^
I have no doubt in my mind that Gale Sayers was one of the 5 best running backs ever. As much as I hate the Chicago Bears, I loved the way Sayers ran. If only injury hadn't cut short his career, more casual NFL fans would recognize how fantastic he was.
RIP
.
(edit@ 10:35: after reading this Associated Press tribute to Sayers, I felt compelled to post it here for everyone.
https://apnews.com/fbb9f884ab5c2c262fc5c8f881da1da7
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
Never saw him play. Must have been good to make your top 5. For me, my top 5 are
Barry Sanders
Bo Jackson
Emmit Smith
Walter Payton
Adrian Peterson
He's in good company.
September 23rd, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^
My top 5, in no particular order because I barely saw Jim Brown play at the very tail end of his career:
Brown, Barry, Sayers, Payton, and Simpson.
Next 5 would come from this group (allowing me to slip in a couple more greats): Earl Campbell, Bo Jackson, LaDanian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Adrian Peterson.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
Not so humble brag here--My brother in law was business partners with Gale for many years and twice I had the opportunity to play golf with him and hung out on a couple of other occasions. Very quiet, (almost painfull so at times), but one of the kindest guys you could ever meet.
He told us the story of his famous 6 TD game as a rookie. He joked that nearly every fan he has ever met over the years swears that they were at that game even though the stadium was only half full at the time.
Great guy. Great player. RIP.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
It seems that every story about him over the years really does demonstrate that he lived by that mantra of "I am third."
To the uninitiated, he said that he puts God first, friends/others second, and himself third. He appeared to be a truly humble individual who also happened to be blessed with immense talent.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
Absolutely true.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
Dutch, I probably met him while he was in business with your brother. He was looking to open up a new business lane with our bank in Arizona in the early 90s and senior management was out of town. Our secretary rang me and said there was a "Mr. Sayers here to meet the manager." My luck, even though a couple notches (or so) down the management chain, I was the next best thing available, and when I walked up front I knew it was him as soon as I saw him.
We talked for no more than fifteen minutes, and it was primarily work related, but everything you say is true. Very professional, but humble, soft-spoken, and unassuming. When my manager (a Chicago native) was back in town the following week, I handed him Gale's business card. You should've seen the look on his face. He couldn't believe his bad luck. He also couldn't get to his phone fast enough to call him back. Even as a Detroit fan, you had to admire the way he played the game. Sad to hear of his passing this morning.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
A sad day indeed for the game of football.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:11 AM ^
A sad loss - he was phenomenal
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
A true giant. Chicago fans were extremely fortunate to have both Sayers and Payton grace their backfields throughout the years.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
A sad day. He was an incredible football player and maybe an even better human being. I still recall, when I was a young child, watching Brian's song, a movie about his friendship with Brian Piccolo, a teammate who died from cancer at a young age.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
Several years ago, one of my softball teammates made the statement that "Brian's Song" was the one movie you could admit to crying over without having to surrender your man card.
There was no dissent. I had the feeling we'd all done it.
RIP, Mr. Sayers.
September 23rd, 2020 at 7:22 PM ^
I don't even need to watch it. I cry just thinking about it.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:52 AM ^
Damn, Rest In Peace
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
Sayers acquired the nickname "Kansas Komet" as a collegian and you can see why in a few of these plays as a Jayhawk (The first minute or two in color are hardly highlights, but it really gets going in black and white after that).
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:13 AM ^
I see what you mean. Starting just before the midpoint of the reel, he has some electrifying runs.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
Most famous moment off the field
https://nypost.com/2020/05/25/gale-sayers-moving-brians-song-tribute-turns-50/
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
I remember watching Sweetness play, a lot. But, sadly, I don't remember having had the pleasure of seeing Sayers in real action. His highlights are incredible - as many have said, Barry before Barry.
RIP, immortal legend.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
I always thought Biakabutuka ran like Sayers. They both seemed to be able to change directions in big bounds without losing speed. Their hips just seemed to go sideways and around would-be tacklers.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
He played before I became really interested in football, but I do remember his Stroh's commercials fondly. Rest in peace, sir.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:08 PM ^
I'll never forget the movie Brian's Song made in the early 1970s starring James Caan as Brian Piccalo who died of cancer in his prime and Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers and the strong bond they had as teammates and for life. It was a real tear jerker and well done.
RIP Gale as you join your friend Brian heaven.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^
I had no idea James Caan played Brian Piccolo in that movie. Thanks for sharing that.
September 23rd, 2020 at 7:29 PM ^
If you don't tear up at that theme, you may not be human.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
I only have highlights to go on, which is definitely skewed by nature, but he and Walter Payton were my all-time faves (saw Payton live). Both had power and elusiveness. But Barry was my fave to watch, being the home-time hero and all...plus, once-in-a-generation talent.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:01 PM ^
He was not only great on the field but off the field as well. What a great legacy he left. Like many have said, he was Barry before Barry. RIP Mr. Sayers
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
The best pure running back I’ve ever seen. Yep, I’m that old.
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
Too bad he didn't have the benefit of today's medical technology. He might have really set some records.
September 23rd, 2020 at 4:14 PM ^
My first favorite player, so this hits pretty hard. Gale was electric. He had a little more of a slasher style than Barry, who many are comparing him to. But if you watch his highlights, you see the same trail of confused bodies in his wake you saw with Barry. To top it off, he was, by all accounts, a great guy. We're gonna miss you, Gale.
September 23rd, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
Not sure he ever got to play on a team with a winning record; no playoff games for sure.
He said". "Give me 18 inches of daylight; that's all I need."
And returned kickoffs and punts.
Saw him at Tiger Stadium in 1967, 97 yard KO return TD, plus a long run from scrimmage and a long punt return.
R.I.P.
September 23rd, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
I’d say “God speed”, but Gale May well have been faster. He was awesome.