Ranking the greatest Gale Sayers Bears games
Arguably his best game that year. Sayers simply tormented the 49ers, racking up three of the Bears' four touchdowns in a 28-14 win. Although his rushing totals were modest (11 carries for 30 yards and a score), Sayers dominated on special teams, returning the opening kickoff and a third quarter punt to the house. Credit Sayers, too, for playing in extremely muddy conditions at Kezar Stadium.
Sayers rushed for a career-high 205 yards on 24 attempts as the Bears defeated the Packers 13-10 at Lambeau Field. The next week, Sayers had a serious knee injury during a game against the 49ers.
It is critical to include a post-knee surgery moment on this list. This particular game is a testament to Sayers' grueling comeback from that devastating injury almost exactly a year prior. He rushed for 112 yards and two scores as the Bears beat the Steelers 38-7 at Wrigley Field. It was their only win of the season.
George Halas inserted Gale Sayers into the starting lineup for the first time. The Kansas Comet didn't disappoint. He immediately made an impact, rushing 17 times for 80 yards and score, while adding a career-best 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. He accounted for all the Bears' scoring in a 23-14 loss at Lambeau Field.
Sayers' breakout game. All he did was score four touchdowns-- two in the air, one on the ground and the other off a 96-yard kickoff return that put the Bears up for good in a wild 45-37 victory at Metropolitan Stadium. Chicago Tribune reporter George Strickler said that Sayers had, "most certainly a claim on Rookie of the Year award." It was only Week 5. And only the third week featuring Sayers in a starting role.
The fans in attendance at chilly Wrigley Field would quickly forget about the Bears' pedestrian 4-7-1 record coming into this one. Sayers had a game for the ages, going for 339 total yards in a 41-28 win over the Vikings. After running back a first quarter kickoff for a 90-yard score, he would later break a 7-7 tie with a three yard plunge in the end zone. The 196 rushing, 26 receiving and 116 yards via two kick returns add up to a total net of 339, still a Bears franchise record.
Was there ever any doubt? This is not only one the best performances in Bears history, but also one of the greatest individual NFL feats of all time. On a muddy Wrigley Field playing surface, Sayers started things off by zig-zagging off a short reception from Rudy Bukich, 80 yards to the house. He then scampered to the end zone on runs of 1, 21, 7 and 50. The cherry on top? An 85-yard punt return TD and an eventual 61-20 throttling of the 49ers. The record six touchdowns is one of the most stunning individual performances in professional sports history.
