Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers has died after a long battle with dementia. He was 77.
Sayers' NFL career was brief - he only played five full seasons with the Bears before knee injuries cut his career short. But the halfback would make the Pro Bowl four times, led the NFL in yards per game thrice and in rushing twice. In 1977, at the age of 34, Sayers became the youngest player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sayers has the distinction of being named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as both a halfback and a kickoff returner.
Yet Sayers would be best known for his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo. The pair would become the first black and white teammates to become roommates in NFL history. Piccolo was the driving force in helping Sayers get through his knee injuries. Sayers would be at Piccolo's side during his battle with cancer which would claim his life at the age of his 26.
Sayers documented his friendship with Piccolo in his autobiography I Am Third. This would be adapted into the made for TV movie Brian's Song starring Billy Dee Williams as Sayers and James Caan as Piccolo. Sayers is now reunited with his friend in Heaven and their friendship is now eternal. R.I.P.
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