Chicago Bears: Top 25 players in franchise history

2. RB Gale Sayers

Gone are the days where starting running backs also stood out as their franchise’s primary special teams ace. Gale Sayers might just be the most memorable player of his stature. The “Kansas Comet” was as versatile as they came, and fortunately for the Bears, they were able to get their hands on him in the 1965 NFL Draft.

Sayers was truly a special player. When you talk about a guy who could take it to the house anytime he got his hands on the ball, Sayers’ name will come up in that conversation almost every time. He was as consistent as you could get as a running back, averaging 5.0 yards per carry over his career.

He only spent seven years in the league before calling it a career. An ankle injury caused him to miss a large portion of the 1971 season and he attempted to play the following year but hung up the cleats following a preseason contest.

Sayers made his seven seasons count, though, as he was a five-time selection to the All-Pro First Team as well as making four Pro Bowls. He led the NFL in rushing in both 1966 and 1969. From the moment he stepped on the field, going from Rookie of the Year to seeing his jersey retired at both levels, Sayers played every down as if it was his last.

"“Just give me 18 inches of daylight.”"