The death of Gale Sayers brings an end to the era of the spectacular and elusive running back, whose relationship with a dying Chicago Bears colleague propelled his popularity well beyond the field for decades.
Sayers, who was known as “The Kansas Comet” and was regarded as one of the game’s greatest open-field runners, passed away on Wednesday, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sayers’ family members said that he had been diagnosed with dementia. Ardythe, his wife, stated in March 2017 that she was partially responsible for his football career.
“Football fans know well Gale’s many accomplishments on the field: a rare combination of speed and power as the game’s most electrifying runner, a dangerous kick returner, his comeback from a serious knee injury to lead the league in rushing, and becoming the youngest player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said in a statement. “People who weren’t even football fans came to know Gale through the TV movie ‘Brian’s Song,’ about his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo. Fifty years later, the movie’s message that brotherhood and love needn’t be defined by skin color still resonates.”
Gale Sayers Cause Of Death
After a long battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, legendary American football player Gale Sayers passed away at the age of 77. Sayers made an indelible mark on the game with his lightning quickness and elusiveness.
Gone But Not Forgotten!
Chicago Bears famed running back, Gale Sayers, died today.
He was 77. No cause of death was provided.
Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, age 34, making him the youngest recipient of the honor. pic.twitter.com/N6ikIzmwyA
— Bill Lucey (@wplucey) September 23, 2020
Injury-plagued his brief NFL career of just five seasons, beginning with a serious knee injury and continuing with setbacks to the opposite knee and ankle. He was only able to play in four games during his final two years in the NFL because of his physical limitations.
Sayers’ degenerative brain illness linked to repeated head trauma in football was diagnosed in 2012, however, his wife claims the onset of his behavioural abnormalities occurred in 2009 or 2010.
With his passing, he joins a long list of NFL greats who were struck by this disease. The impact of Gale Sayers is not limited to his playing career. His bond with Brian Piccolo, a white teammate and roommate who battled cancer, was featured in the 1971 made-for-TV movie “Brian’s Song,” which made him a household name.
The touching portrayal of their friendship humanized football players in the eyes of fans. The terrible turn Sayers’ life took when he was diagnosed with CTE brought home the importance of the ongoing discussion of brain injuries and player safety in football.
The journey he takes from injury catharsis in the film to his own fight against a degenerative brain disease is a powerful reminder of the dangers of the sport and the urgency with which it must be addressed.
Is Gale Sayers Still Alive or Dead?
Of course, the great running back Gale Sayers left us on September 23, 2020, at the age of 77. He passed away in his Wakarusa, Indiana, home. His stepson confirmed that the death was the result of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease complications.
Franklin begins his statement by acknowledging the passing of Gale Sayers.
— Ruta Ulcinaite FOX17 (@RutaUlcinaite) September 23, 2020
Sayers’s family eventually came forward in March 2017 to say that he had been diagnosed with dementia after publicly displaying signs beginning in 2013. He now joins the growing list of football players who have suffered brain damage due to their battles with these ailments.
Sayers was largely considered to be among the NFL’s finest players, despite having his career cut short by knee injuries. Many in the football community considered him the best halfback ever thanks to his dazzling speed and deceptiveness on the field.
Sayers’ extraordinary mobility allowed him to outshine players like legendary fullback Jim Brown, who was physically larger. The film “Brian’s Song” has helped spread his fame and tale far beyond the realm of sports.
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When Did Gale Sayers Pass Away, and Why?
Omaha Central High School alum and NFL great Gale Sayers, 77, died this morning after a long battle with dementia. The NFL Hall of Fame has verified his passing. Sayers, nicknamed “The Kansas Comet,” was widely regarded as one of the league’s best runners.
He was the youngest player in Pro Football Hall of Fame history when he was inducted in 1977 at the age of 34 for his outstanding achievements in football and track while at Omaha Central High School.
Sayers had a successful football career, with many high points including setting the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with five. He accomplished this astounding feat in his rookie season, at Wrigley Field, against the San Francisco 49ers.
Over the course of his seven seasons in the NFL, he was named to the All-Pro team five times. Sayers was a two-time All-American at the University of Kansas and a member of the University of Kansas’s Hall of Fame football team. Widespread recognition and respect were showered upon him as a result of his exceptional abilities and contributions to the sport.
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