Gale Sayers

The NFL was taken by storm in 1965, when the “Kansas Comet” lit up the excitement in the league. He was a rookie running back sensation from the University of Kansas, that ignited the Chicago Bears offense into a very formidable rushing force to be dealt with. His name was Gale Sayers, and he was a two time All-American as a Kansas Jayhawk and his 99 yard run in college set the NCAA record and added to his notoriety and intrigue in the football fandom. 

According to his Wikipedia bio, Sayers had 4020 all purpose yards in 3 seasons with the Jayhawks and in his rookie season with the Bears he averaged an amazing 5.2 yards per rush and 17.5 yards per reception. As amazing as those numbers are, his NFL return yards will blow your minds as he averaged 14.9 yards returning punts and a whopping 31.4 yards for kick returns in 1965!

Sayers professional career was brief, at seven years but was extremely memorable for his activity on the field, but as great as Gale was on the football field, his off field acts make him a true legend. Sayers recorded a truly great book in 1970 called “I am Third”. His title was aptly named for his belief that God is first, his friends and family were second and then came himself. There is an excellent biography done on Mr Sayers on History Makers.com here.

It was this belief system that showed true inspiration from Gale Sayers. The book takes the reader through the player's internal struggles with being a football star, some personal dark days as he fought through a severe knee injury but the pivotal portion of this book was in the relationship Sayers had with Brian Piccolo. It eventually was made into a famous movie titled, “Brian’s Song” in 1971. 

After his retirement from football Gale stayed active in sports as he went on to serve as the Athletic Director of Southern Illinois University from 1976 through 1981. Sayers then went into various endeavors including founding a sport and marketing firm called Sayers and Sayers Enterprises and later also founded a computer supplies and technology business.

This busy man also made time to support and aid in fund raising for many organizations including the Better Boys Foundation, the Cradle Adoption Agency, the Gale Sayers Center, Grid Iron Greats, Junior Achievement, and Wesley House. 

Your writer was a witness for this man’s caring and humbleness. In 1983, Gale Sayers came into my home town for a sporting awards event. The night prior to the event some dignitaries of my town entertained Mr. Sayers at a local club where I worked as a highschool aged busboy. I had recently read his book as a school assignment and recognized him immediately. As I served the table, I introduced myself to Mr. Sayers and told him how much I had enjoyed his book. To my astonishment he stood up and shook my hand and spent a few moments to thank me and encourage me to push myself in school and life.

It was an important moment in my life, I have since grown older and re-read I am Third a couple times now, and I still feel inspired by this special man and his wonderful examples he has portrayed and the messages he gave both me and society. Gale Sayers is truly an inspiration.