Bear Goggles On
Fansided

The Retired Numbers of the Chicago Bears and the Men Behind Them

By Bryan Dietzler

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 04: A general view of a field goal by the Chicago Bears against the Detroit Lions on October 4, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 48-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - OCTOBER 04: A general view of a field goal by the Chicago Bears against the Detroit Lions on October 4, 2009 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 48-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – OCTOBER 24: Former player Gayle Sayers of the Chicago Bears is introducted to the crowd before a game against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on October 24, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO – OCTOBER 24: Former player Gayle Sayers of the Chicago Bears is introducted to the crowd before a game against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on October 24, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Gale Sayers

If there are two things that the Bears are known for, it’s defense and running backs. In this case, Gayle Sayers, a running back from Kansas State, the latter, is one of the Bears most memorable players. Watching him play, it looked as if he was walking on air. He was able to just blow by defenders on his way to the end zone.

He had it all as a running back.

Perhaps the biggest moment in Sayer’s career came on December 12, 1965 as he had a total of six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. This amazing feat is still talked about to this day.

Sayers was truly amazing running the football.

The youngest ever elected to the Hall of Fame, Sayers’ career was cut short due to knee injuries. He was not able to overcome such devastating damage (which would be easier to overcome today) and was forced to retire from football. Had he remained healthy, he could have, statistically, been one of the greatest running backs of all time.

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