Gale Sayers's Career Highlights
All-NFL: 1966 (AP, UPI, NEA, PFWA, NY), 1967 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1968 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY, PW), 1969 (AP, UPI, NEA, PW, NY)
All-Pro: 1968 (PFWA), 1969 (HOF, PFWA, NEA)
All Western Conference: 1966 (SN), 1967 (SN), 1968 (SN), 1969 (SN)
(4) – 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970
(at time of his retirement following 1971 season)
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Season – 2,440 (1966)
• [1st] Highest Combined Net Yard Average, Game – 19.76 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Season – 2,440 (1966)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Season – 22 (1965)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns By a Rookie, Season – 22 (1965)
• [1st] Most Points By a Rookie, Season – 132 (1965)
• [1st] Highest Kickoff Return Yard Average, Career – 30.60
• [1st] Highest Combined Net Yard Average, Game – 19.76 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns, Game – 6 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Kickoffs Returned for Touchdowns, Career – 6
• [Tied for 1st] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Season – 4 (1967)
• [2nd] Highest Rushing Average, Career – 5.03
• [2nd] Highest Kickoff Return Yard Average, Season – 37.69 (1967)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Kickoffs Returned for Touchdowns, Season – 3 (1967)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Career – 8
• [3rd] Most Combined Net Yards, Game – 339 (vs. Minnesota, Dec. 18, 1966)
Bears’ records held by Sayers at the time of his retirement following the 1971 season
• [1st] Longest Kickoff Return – 103 (vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 17, 1967)
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Season – 2,440 (1966)
• [1st] Highest Combined Net Yard Average, Game – 19.76 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Game – 339 (vs. Minnesota, Dec. 18, 1966)
• [1st] Most Kickoffs Returned for Touchdowns, Career – 6
• [1st] Highest Kickoff Return Yard Average, Career – 30.60
• [1st] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Career – 8
• [1st] Most Kickoff Returns, Career – 91
• [1st] Most Kickoff Return Yards, Career – 2,781
• [1st] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Season – 4 (1967)
• [1st] Highest Kickoff Return Yard Average, Season – 37.69 (1967)
• [1st] Most Punt Return Yards, Game – 134 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [1st] Highest Rushing Yard Average, Career – 5.0
• [1st] Most 100 or More Yard Rushing Games, Career – 20
• [1st] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing, Career – 2 (1966, 1969)
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Season – 1,231 ( 1966)
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempt, Season – 236 (1969)
• [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 14 (1965)
• [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Game – 205 (vs. Green Bay, Nov. 3, 1968)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Season – 22 (1965)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns By a Rookie, Season – 22 (1965)
• [1st] Most Points, Season – 132 (1965)
• [1st] Most Points By a Rookie, Season – 132 (1965)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Game – 6 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Combined Punt and Kickoff Returns for Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 12, 1965)
• [2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Career – 4,956
• [2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 39
League Statistical Championships
Rushing Titles: 1966, 1969
Scoring Titles: 1965
Touchdown Titles: 1965
Kickoff Return Titles: 1966
Team Statistical Championships
Rushing Titles: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
Receiving Titles: 1966
Scoring Titles: 1965, 1967
Punt Return Titles: 1965
Kickoff Return Titles: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969
• NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team (selected in 1994)
• NFL’s 50th Anniversary Team (selected in 1969)
• 1960s All-Decade Team
• All-Time NFL Team (selected in 2000)
• AFL-NFL 1960-1984 All-Star Team (selected in 1985)
• 1965 NFL Rookie of the Year (UPI, AP, NEA, SN)
| 1965 |
Chicago Bears |
9 |
5 |
0 |
(3rd) |
| 1966 |
Chicago Bears |
5 |
7 |
2 |
(5th) |
| 1967 |
Chicago Bears |
7 |
6 |
1 |
(2nd) |
| 1968 |
Chicago Bears |
7 |
7 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1969 |
Chicago Bears |
1 |
13 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1970 |
Chicago Bears |
6 |
8 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1971 |
Chicago Bears |
6 |
8 |
0 |
(3rd) |