Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 40 Days with Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers becomes Chicago Bears star running back

Upon joining the Bears, Sayers immediately became a focal part of the team's offense and started in 12 of the team's 14 games. He finished the season with nearly 1,400 total yards and 20 touchdowns en route to being named NFL Rookie of the Year, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods, and finishing as high as second in the league's MVP voting.

In his second season, Sayers took another step forward and finished the season again on the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams after leading the league in rushing yards (1,231) and total scrimmage yards (1,678). By his third season, Sayers had become one of the most respected players in the league, and despite finishing the campaign with just over 1,000 total yards, the back was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro team.

The next year, a midseason injury forced Sayers to play in only nine games, with backup Brian Piccolo taking over the starting role in the Kansas Comet's absence. During his shortened season, Sayers still logged nearly 1,000 yards and led the league in rush yards per game with 95 yards. At the end of the year, he missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career but was once again nominated as a First-Team All-Pro player. After a summer of rehab, where he was notably supported heavily by running back mate Brian Piccolo, Sayers was prepared to make a full comeback the following year.

Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances would test Sayers, the running back group, and the Chicago Bears in general during the 1969 season. During the year, Sayers' total of 1,032 rushing yards led the league, marking the second time he sat atop of the NFL in terms of yardage, but panic struck when Sayers' close friend Piccolo removed himself from a midseason game due to heavy breathing. After expansive testing, Piccolo was diagnosed with an essentially unbeatable form of testicular cancer, which unfortunately took his life early in 1970.

Sayers was a large part in the celebration and support of Piccolo's life, including serving as one of the pallbearers in his teammate's funeral. Sayers is portrayed in the famous movie Brian's Song which documents the two's relationship in their early years on the Bears (the movie actually pulls from and is partly inspired by Sayers' autobiography I Am Third). Notably, Sayers and Piccolo roomed together since rookie training camp, becoming the first mixed-race roommates in team history.