North Omaha Native and Hall of Fame Running Back, Gale Sayers Dies at age 77

By addie costello

Gale Sayers speaking at a luncheon sponsored by the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. The North Omaha Hall of Famer, who made his mark as one of the NFL’s best all-purpose running backs, has died. (Photo: AP Photo)

North Omaha native and former professional football player, Gale Sayers passed away at the age of 77 on Sept. 23, 2020. The Central High School graduate leaves behind a legacy of football stardom and nationwide cultural impact. To the disappointment of Husker fans, Sayers attended college at Kansas where he earned All-American Honors twice. Nicknamed “the Kansas Comet,” Sayers once ran a 99-yard touchdown during a game at Nebraska. 

Sayers scored a league record 22 touchdowns for the Chicago Bears in his rookie year, 1965, despite apparently vomiting before every game that year. After a knee injury took Sayers out of the game in 1971, he worked in university administration and eventually started a tech company. In an interview with Eric Ewing, executive director for the Great Plains Black History Museum, he gave testament to the kindness, passion and talent of Sayers. 

He states, “With Gale being in the NFL football Hall of Fame – Bob Gibson in the baseball Hall of Fame, Bob Boozer in the basketball Hall of Fame (all Omaha athletes) – we have the first African American to star as a quarterback in the NFL, and one thing you've gotta look at is most of that talent came from about a 20x30 block radius and I find that interesting, so much comes out from so little.”

Ewing spoke about the incredible achievements of Sayers, explaining that while he was nationally recognized, it is often overlooked that he was from North Omaha. Ewing also said, “One way to instill hope in people is to let them know about the greatness of their people,” speaking to the accomplishments of Sayers’ career. At the height of his athletic career, Sayers was arrested for attending a sit in protest against racist dorm housing policies in his university. “They accept me as a football star,” Sayers said, “but not as a Negro.”

Chicago Bears teammates of Brian Piccolo carry his coffin into Christ the King Church for funeral services in Chicago on

June 19, 1970.

Sayers’s friendship with his white teammate Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at 26, was broadcast in the Emmy Award-winning television movie “Brian’s Song.”; a film that broke stereotypes during a time of peak racial conflict. From left, front to back, are Randy Jackson, Dick Butkus, and Gale Sayer. Ed O'Bradovich is at right. (Photo: AP Photo)

Doctors diagnosed Sayers with dementia and Alzheimers in 2013. In that same year, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL for not providing more protection for his head injuries. Sayers passed away of dementia-related causes at the age of 77 on Wednesday, September 23 2020.