When news of Gale Sayers' passing broke Wednesday morning, many that knew and admired the Kansas Comet took to social media to pay tribute to the Bears' legendary running back.
It is with great sadness the Chicago Bears mourn the loss of Bears Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers. Sayers amplified what it meant to be a Chicago Bear both on and off the field. He was regarded as an extraordinary teammate, leader, husband and father. He was 77. pic.twitter.com/cK8kS9ru8b
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 23, 2020
Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey: “Coach Halas said it best, when presenting Gale for induction at the Hall of Fame: ‘His like will never be seen again.’
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 23, 2020
Hall of Famer Dick Butkus: “Will miss a great friend who helped me become the player I became because after practicing and scrimmaging against Gale I knew I could play against anybody. We lost one of the best Bears ever and more importantly we lost a great person.”
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 23, 2020
Rest in peace, @ProFootballHOF RB and @ChicagoBears legend Gale Sayers. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/nmYhk4ag94
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2020
The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Gale Sayers. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Ardie, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations.#HOFForever | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/sLYdu9w0s2
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) September 23, 2020
"Trying to tackle Gale Sayers was like trying to catch a candy wrapper in a wind storm.” -Steve Sabol
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 23, 2020
Rest in Peace to the Kansas Comet. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sVMZgaVLla
Several former Bears players took to social media to pay their respects to Sayers:
Rest in heaven to Mr. Sayers #40
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) September 23, 2020
When I was drafted in 2008 he was our guide in Canton when we got to visit the HOF. Amazing inspiration before starting a career. Thanks for setting the standard for @ChicagoBears RB’s. You’ll be missed but always remembered.
View this post on InstagramOne time for the Kansas Comet.. Legendary Bear Gale Sayers
A post shared by Lance Briggs (@lancebriggs) on
Tough to hear the news about Gale Sayers. Not only was he 1 of the most electrifying players of any generation, he was an ever better person. #RIPGaleSayers
— Jim McMahon (@JimMcMahon) September 23, 2020
Sad to hear the passing of the great #galesayers one of the greatest @bears ever ...RIP Gale Sayers!
— Kevin Butler (@Therealbutthead) September 23, 2020
Rest in peace Gale Sayers. Legends never die. Your legacy will live on forever....🙏🏿 #GoneButNeverForgotten #BearDown https://t.co/ZCb7kSEbbJ
— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) September 23, 2020
“Rest In Heaven” Mr. Sayers! Your legacy and footprint on the game of football will last forever! #🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/oDaWTzzvcH
— Jason McKie (@Jmack37) September 23, 2020
Had some really great conversations with you. Thank you so much for those. You are Legendary! RIP Kansas Comet. https://t.co/EjLksAb7jL
— Jerry Azumah (@JerryAzumah) September 23, 2020
RIP Gale Sayers
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) September 23, 2020
Other athletes, celebrities, sports teams and media figures also paid their respects to Sayers:
Gale Sayers was someone who I admired long before I arrived in Chicago. I loved his approach to the game and of course, how he played it. He inspired me to be great in a city that loves sports like no other. RIP to one of the @NFL’s best ever. #KansasComet @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/Rc3zytUjQj
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) September 23, 2020
I asked Gale Sayers for the best advise he ever received. From his HS football coach: “when it’s you vs 1 person you should win 100% of the time, when it’s you vs 2 people you win 75% of the time. Set your expectations higher than others imagine, then exceed them.” RIP #BearDown pic.twitter.com/WrDKLzfEQH
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) September 23, 2020
“The Lord is First,My Friends are Second and I AM the Third” R.I.P. To The Great Gale Sayers 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 #GaleSayers pic.twitter.com/5AR6KH0HjS
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) September 23, 2020
Gale Sayers' bond with Brian Piccolo was something truly special. ❤️@ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/wYOKtBE8ZC
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 23, 2020
"Give me 18 inches of daylight. That's all I need."
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) September 23, 2020
Gale Sayers: 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
More on his legacy ➝ https://t.co/FClBXiSI67 pic.twitter.com/JlgGgowD0j
Rest in peace to the 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭, Gale Sayers.
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) September 23, 2020
One of the best and most impactful the game has ever seen.
1943-2020 pic.twitter.com/OniG0vFJgr
Gale Sayers has passed away at the age of 77. RIP Kansas Comet. 🙏🏽 #Bears pic.twitter.com/4L1Bx5PjzV
— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) September 23, 2020
My heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend, Gale Sayers.
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) September 23, 2020
Portraying Gale in Brian’s Song was a true honor and one of the nightlights of my career. He was an extraordinary human being with the the kindest heart.
My sincerest condolences to his family 💔#RIPGaleSayers pic.twitter.com/OyQRlwuznU
To one of the greatest ever an inspiration to so many. So proud to have known him. My love and condolences to the family. #RIPGaleSayers End of tweet pic.twitter.com/klmCCJv1W3
— James Caan (@James_Caan) September 23, 2020
The Cubs are saddened by the loss of Bears Hall of Fame RB Gale Sayers.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 23, 2020
We join the Chicago sports community and football world in mourning the passing of a legend who made a home at Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/z34a73fHNz
RIP to one of the greatest athletes in Chicago history.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 23, 2020
We send our condolences to the Sayers family, the @ChicagoBears and their fans. https://t.co/Fm5ZeSwZFv
One of the best Chicago has ever seen.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 23, 2020
RIP @ChicagoBears legend & Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, Gale Sayers. https://t.co/0DVt4PmTvH
I grew up watching Gale Sayers and used to feel sorry for myself as a little kid because Gale got hurt so soon. He occupies a place alongside Ernie Banks and Mike Ditka and a handful of great athletes in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/uFlfxIOeme
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) September 23, 2020
Gale Sayers scored six TDs in one game... as a rookie.
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) September 23, 2020
One of the greatest to ever run the ball. RIP to the @ChicagoBears legend. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BUV9nP6pds
Gale Sayers did many great things over the course of his life. One of the best was his investment in helping Black children get adopted. He helped bring joy to a lot of families, including mine. Rest in peace, Kansas Comet.https://t.co/YsGSU5NoKW
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) September 23, 2020
Very sad to hear about @ProFootballHOF @NFL @ChicagoBears legend Gale Sayers. The Kansas Comet is one of the most underrated RBs of all time and personally one of my favorites. Prayers for Gale and his family ✝️🙏😇
— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) September 23, 2020
Rest In Peace Greatness!!! Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers has passed away https://t.co/RGyNeXj7Zt
— Willie Anderson (@BigWillie7179) September 23, 2020
i know many thing none of the stars of yesteryear could play today, but old heads talked about gale sayers like he was a superhero. hall of famer on the strength of five seasons.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) September 23, 2020
My friend, neighbor and hero made his transition. One of the greatest football players and an even better friend. Rest In Peace, #GaleSayers. https://t.co/QEDC7ngdzd
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) September 23, 2020
Take some time to watch some clips of the legendary #Bears RB Gale Sayers today. He was as graceful and electric of a runner as you will ever see. Ever. My sincere condolences to his family. 🙏🏾
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) September 23, 2020
As elegant as it gets on the field. As gracious as it gets off the field. Rest in Power Gale Sayers. You will be missed for countless reasons. #RIPGaleSayers #Gentleman #18InchesOfDaylight #Bears pic.twitter.com/IT4hEGGiLA
— Anthony Herron (@BigAntHerron) September 23, 2020
More of Dan Quinn's appreciation for Gale Sayers: "He was so hard to tackle because he could make you miss with speed, he could make you miss with change of direction. ... He just looked like he was moving so much faster than everybody else. That’s a rare thing."
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) September 23, 2020
One of the baddest of the bad. Grace under pressure. Beautiful. No one else did it like him. RIP Gale Sayers https://t.co/yVxuOMZrFe
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) September 23, 2020
Mike Zimmer starts off his Wednesday availability offering condolences over the passing of Gayle Sayers. He went to his home when he was 11 years old to play pool with his father and one of his dad's players. Got his autograph on a football.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 23, 2020
Gale Sayers' light never was intended to burn long. It was intended to burn brightest, and it did. Rest In Peace to a legendary football player, philanthropist, and believer.
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) September 23, 2020
Rest in peace, Gale Sayers. Legendary player and gentleman.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) September 23, 2020
In sadness of Gale Sayers passing, it is a good day to watch Brian's Song.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 23, 2020
Sayers and @ChicagoBears teammate Brian Piccolo, who succumbed to cancer in 1970, were the NFL's first interracial roommates.
I believe Gale and Brian are having a joyful reunion while the rest of us mourn https://t.co/v2Uqyh1BdN
Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo made sports history as the NFL’s first interracial roommates and set a brilliant example for the world. Today we mourn the passing and celebrate the sensational life of the Kansas Comet, Gale Sayers. https://t.co/TCsdYNWCjY
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) September 23, 2020
A generation of Bears fans mourn loss of a legend who was most exciting player on many bad teams. Another generation knows No. 40 only from old highlights. Everyone can agree Gale Sayers was epitome of grace, on and off field, one of best Bears ever, who'll be missed. RIP, Gale.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) September 23, 2020
I flew on the same plane with Gale Sayers from Chicago to Miami when the Bears were about to meet the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 23, 2020
Of course, he had Bears fans coming up to him non-stop for pictures, autographs ... and handled every one with a smile.
Seemed like such a gentleman.
