Condolences poured out on social media from sports figures mourning the death of Hall of Famer Gale Sayers at the age of 77.
Nicknamed the Kansas Comet, Sayers was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 despite playing just seven seasons, all with the Bears. At 34, he was the youngest player ever inducted.
Sayers was a five-time All-Pro who averaged 5 yards per carry for his career and twice led the league in rushing, including in 1969 (1,032 yards) after having torn the ACL and MCL in his right knee late in the previous season. An injury to his left knee in 1970 was too much for him to overcome, and he retired in 1971.
His career numbers of 4,956 yards and 39 touchdowns on the ground came primarily over five seasons, as he played sparingly in 1970 and '71.
In Chicago and the Hall of Fame
Chicago Bears pay tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/2FTsjPH
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) Sept. 23, 2020
NFL mourns the passing of Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/2RTzEkw
— NFL (@NFL) Sept. 23, 2020
Mourning the passing of Gale Sayers pic.twitter.com/301HhtD
— NFL Hall of Fame(@ProFootballHOF) Aug. 20, 2020
Scottie Pippen pays tribute to Gale Sayers pic.twitter.com/3cwDCt6
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) Aug. 20, 2020
Jarrett Payton pays tribute to Gale Sayers pic.twitter.com/32UHFvP
— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) Sept. 23, 2020
Matt Forte pays tribute to Gale Sayers pic.twitter.com/33Qa1XD
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) Sept. 23, 2020
Cordarrelle Patterson pays tribute to Gale Sayers pic.twitter.com/3hZKG2i
— Cordarrelle Patterson (@ceeflashpee84) Sept. 23, 2020
Former and current players around the NFL
CJ Spiller pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/3cojAAR
— CJ Spiller (@CJSPILLER) Sept. 23, 2020
Aeneas Williams pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/2RRyiH5
— Aeneas Williams (@aeneas35) Sept. 23, 2020
Melvin Gordon pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/3cmT3nB
— Melvin Gordon(@Melvingordon25) Sept. 23, 2020
Rocky Bleier pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/2FTgYPD
— Rocky Bleier (@RockyBleier) Sept. 23, 2020
And from celebrities and admirers around the country
Billy Dee Williams pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/3i014jk
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) Sept. 23, 2020
Ashton Kutcher pays tribute to Gale Sayerspic.twitter.com/3cr05Yq
— Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) Sept. 23, 2020
