Thank you for your service. I was in Navy boot camp in late 1968. And after a couple of Navy schools, I was off to a guided missile destroyer off the coast of South Vietnam in a 1970 deployment and off the coast of South Vietnam and mostly off the coast of North Vietnam in a deployment in 1972. Sports was far from my mind!
@@davidsoule1252 Thank you for the service you gave us all. It's the bonding with others that share the same dangers. Each standing in harm's way. Each sharing the pride in their hearts for a job done. Each sharing the same pain of a loss. The morning of the loss of someone you know and depend on. And coming home only to be spit on by someone. Someone who can't feel enough to begin to understand what you have been through. Thank each and every one of you. All of you who made it back and those who couldn't.
@@theyarehere8919 Thank you. My older cousin was a medic in the Army and was spit on when he returned back. I still had a couple of years to go in the Navy after the Vietnam War. During my four years of college (G.I. Bill), I never mentioned to any of my college classmates that I was a Vietnam Veteran.
San Anto Totally agree. I've been saying the same thing for many years now. I'm 63 YO and have seen all the Modern Day Greats. These 2 Chicago Bears were the Best. And the thing is, more than half of these highlight were in a losing effort.
Rip Gale Sayers. You truly are a legend nobody will forget. You were one of the most exiting players and you taught us a lot about life through your friendship with Piccolo.
I am a lifelong Bears fan and had the honor of meeting Pic and Gale (separately) before they died. They both signed my sandlot football. It is a great reminder of what they did for our society.
Butkus was the best linebacker ever. No one came close. He is one of the rare few who would still be all-pro in today's league of bigger and faster players. Having watched him on TV through the 60s and 70s I was beyond amazed to see a human being give it his all on every single play. He never gave up until the play was over; he'd run after someone even if he had no chance of catching him. He would stop a 240-pound running back cold and then lift him up and slam him into the mud or snow. The man was a born warrior who breathed fear and fire into the minds of the offense.
Auggie What you said, about giving his all on every single play, that's another reason I consider Butkus the Best. What other player would've given his all on every single play when his team was losing as constantly as the Bears did back then? For instance, from 1969 to 1973, the Bears only won 20 games, and yet Butkus was voted D P of the Y twice during that time. Voted #10 of the Top 100 NFL Players of All Time, the only Player of that top 10 to never play Post Season Football.
I saw Taylor play. What's Your point? Taylor was an OLBer in a 3/4 Defense meaning he was an Edge Rusher or Glorified DE, hence his 132+Career QB Sacks and Paltry 9 Career INTs. He played on mostly winning teams during his career with the Giants, was on 2 SB winning teams and had multiple Pro Bowl/HOF Teammates. Butkus only played on 2 winning teams during his 9 year career. He never played Post Season football. He recorded 22 Career INTs. and 27 Career FRs ( Taylor recorded 11). Butkus was basically a 1Man Show with very little help from his Teammates, especially on Offense. Butkus also averaged 113 Tackles per 14 game seasons while Taylor averaged 82 Tackles per 16 game seasons over 13 years.
Butkus was voted #10 on the All Time 100 Greatest NFL Players. Taylor was voted #3. Of the Top 10, Butkus was the only Player to never play Post Season Football.
Lawrence Taylor was a great edge rusher, hard hitter and could snag a runner from behind. Since you are a Lawrence Taylor fan, who has more sacks in a single game, Dick Butkus or Lawrence Taylor? Of course they didn't officially record sacks then, but that doesn't mean they didn't happen. Butkus knocked out two quarterbacks on 3 sacks while getting 6 on Dec. 13, 1970.@@richardzink6026
Lawrence taylor; Maybe ray Lewis, but butkus clearly in anyones top three.both were faster and better at pass coverage but butkus was like larry bird always in position if not the fastest guy.
Butkus recorded 22 INTs. In 9 seasons. Taylor recorded 9 INTs. In 13 seasons. How was Taylor better than Butkus in Pass Coverage? Besides, Taylor spent the majority of his snaps rushing the QB.
These two were amazing. Both outworked, and outplayed their bodies. Truly left it all on the field. Never met Butkus. Met Sayers at a radio remote back in ‘03. Chicago radio hack Mike North was running the broadcast. I’m not an autograph hound, but could not resist complementing Mr. Sayers and getting an autograph when he offered the opportunity on a break. Very friendly and gracious. After the show the hack host and his partner walked past our table, I said “Thanks, Mike for the great show and the chance to meet a legend.” He pulled his hat down over his face as he walked by and pretended not to see us. A gracious legend treated us politely, and a useless radio chatterbox acted like we were asking him for money.
Hard to win football games when your team is QB challenged, which the Chicago Bears were for all of Butkus' and Sayers' careers. George Halas' single biggest mistake was allowing George Allen to leave the Bears. He should've retired in '65 and made Allen HC. Look what Allen did with the Rams and Redskins.
One of my favorite memories as a kid is, when the Bears played the Packers in Butkuss' rookie year, before the game the announcers were like, "Wonder what it'll be like when Butkus meets Jim Taylor!" Taylor was a hard nosed fullback for the Pack. Well, Taylor was running the "Green Bay Sweep" in the open field, and he met Butkus one on one. Butkus knocked him out cold. Chicago born and raised, Dick Butkus. The epitome of "Chicago Tough!!".
I hate the Bears the Cubs the White Sox and the Bulls but been a Blackhawk admirer since I saw them play when I was in the 7th grade first hockey game I ever saw they beat the Rangers in the old Madison Square Garden on 48th and 8th Avenue it was a rough dirty City when I was 17 I got a tattoo in a carpenter shop in the basement tattoos were illegal in the city of New York at the time now everyone looks like a comic book specially ladies I don't like it on them but the guys makes them look tough even if they're not it is and art form spread a lot of diseases before the health department started to do checking them diligently
Good point. Most of them had "real" jobs that had nothing to do with football or their notoriety as players. Read Jerry Kramer's "Green Bay Diary" to get a sense of what their life was like. So many great stories. And then read the sequel (25 years later). The game shaped them into good/great people.
I'm a Detroit Lions fan .So I am somewhat familiar with the Bears .Detroit had a game with Chicago way back early 70's.Detroit had a receiver named Chuck Huges.He had a heart problem and went down after the tackle .The Lions were walking off field or something .Dick Butkus was the guy who signaled that the Lions had a guy down .He died on the field I believe. Butkus tried to get him help . When they mention his name - think of that first .
Wow! I just came across this incredible video. I am an old guy who grew up watching these players....and many others of that period. I was never a Bears fan....but damn, there was no way you could not watch them. Two totally different people who really defined the Bears. Butkus was the ultimate player you loved to hate....or hated to love. He was a one man wrecking crew. I watched his final game and his emotional farewell. Hell, all of a sudden I became a Butkus fan. Gayle Sayers......you just can't say enough good about him. He was a class act in every sense of the word. That man had more talent and ability in his little finger than ALL of today's spoiled brats. Someone commented that "back then the players got little pay.......but they played with heart." Damn right! Too many of today's players are nothing more than grossly overpaid punks. Can you imagine Butkus or Sayers not honoring our Country? I would love to be able to let Dick Butkus loose on the likes of Colin Kaepernick.....and others. Unfortunately, the only way I can protest against that P O S is to never watch today's crap. Also, never patronize those who sponsor the games. Hell, it works for me.....may not for ya'll.....but give it a try.
I was 5 and 6 years old when theses guys were playing. I’ve loved pro football from an early age. I am from a small town in southern New Mexico, started out as a Rams fan but switched to a Raiders fan in the late sixties, I am still a Raiders fan, will be until my last day. Praying that the Raiders will win one more Super Bowl before I leave this world. Roman Gabriel was my favorite player then but even when the Rams played against the Bears back then, I couldn’t hold back from cheering for Butkus and Sayers! I especially loved Butkus’ bone crunching hits!!!
I watched that game when Sayers scored 6 touchdowns. He was unreal on the wet and muddy field. As for Butkus, I view him as the greatest linebacker ever. My most remembered game of Butkus when that Detroit player collapsed on the field, and Butkus was the one screaming to the Detroit people to get out there and take care of him. That player was no longer the enemy, the a human being who needed medical help really fast.
I saw Gayle in college. I coached 36 years in high school and college, seen about everyone from 58 on. I've never seen anything like Sayers in my life.
@@rcwbud52 For 3 and a half years ( '65 thru '68) Gale Sayers was the most exciting football player in the NFL. And maybe of all time. In '69 he came back from a serious injury to run for over 1000 yards. But he was never really the same. To me, he was the greatest running back of all time.
No wonder that players were afraid of him. Dick Butkus did a great job. Gale Sayers ran like the wind , unbelievable. It's too bad that knee injuries shorten their careers. They were awesome.
Yes, being "Old School myself, it was a great game back then. I remember watching Sayers and Butkus on black and white TV and going outside after the game to playing ball with my friends.
Gayer Sayers one of the top 5 running backs of all time. Notice, Butkus how he tackled, the way that is not taught anymore. He hit you with everything, and it ran threw the person. It was clean, not with his head, no spearing, with shoulders squared and wrapped with his arms. Both just beautiful, both of them.
It's funny listening to both Butkus and Sayers, they did not see themselves as superstars though they were . Both were very humble saying that they just loved to play . The great ones all have the same thing in common "the love of the game"
DICK BUTKUS WAS A COLD BEAST!!! THE EPITOME OF A HARD NOSED MIDDLE LINEBACKER, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GUY. WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP PLAYING BOYS CLUB FOOTBALL, I STRIVED TO BE AND PLAY LIKE DICK BUTKUS. HIS NAME ALONE GIVES ME CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT NAME YOU THOUGHT OF THE BEST MIDDLE LINEBACKER TO EVER PLAY THE GAME. A TRUE MANS MAN. GOD BLESS YOU DICK BUTKUS FOR SHOWING ALL OF US WHAT ITS LIKE TO HAVE HEART COURAGE AND TENACITY. WHAT A SUPREME LEADER AS WELL. HE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ATHELETS AND PEOPLE OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!
***** Soft and feminine? lol If today's players were allowed to clothesline, spear, head slap and crush the QB like they did back then, there would be dead bodies all across the league. Yes, they were tough back then, but they're kind of tough today, too. And the toll yesterday's game took on the players was enormous. Why do you think these rules are there? Too many of those guys ended up as cripples, vegetables or both. The average life span of those guys is much less than the average American male. But you're rough, tough and hard to bluff because you sit on the couch and swill beer while watching them.
Two of the best to ever play the game period. Today Dick Butkus would be penalized for the hits he made back in those days. That was football what they do today is shameful.
Indeed. As a life-long BEARS fan, I'm glad that you can recognize his greatness & ferocity. Another total beast was Jack Tatum of RAIDERS. They just don't make 'em like this anymore, man: ua-cam.com/video/EWLjI8j0sB8/v-deo.html
Butkus is simply the very, very, best. The HUGE hits were clean. He used his shoulders, not the helmet. Perhaps even more important, the ferocity stayed on field.
Taylor shouldn't be compared to Butkus. Butkus was a MLB with more responsibilities than Taylor, who was an OLB/ Edge Rusher. Taylor's main job was to Rush the QB.
I had the opportunity to sit and have a few drinks, with Ray Nitschke in a little bar in Fargo-in the mid 70s. He was no slouch himself-but he had nothing but praise for Butkus, and amazement at what Sayers could do. Respect from your peers is the height of success in my book!
my dad was at the gale sayers game against the 49ers...he always tells me that he was the most amazing thing he has ever seen..... btw my fav. rbs are sanders. and earl campbell
Earl and the Oilers deserved at least one SB chance. A shame they peaked during the first Steelers reign. They were definitely the second best team in the NFL in the '70s.
I would've LOVED to have watched them but, I was raised watching Da Bears of the 80's with Samurai Mike and of course THE GREATEST EVER, SWEETNESS WALTER PAYTON!!!
On Sunday afternoons, we'd go to my grandparents for dinner after church and chores, and then I would watch the Bears with my dad and grandpa. I was only a little kid, (a girl) and I don't remember Butkus, but I loved Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. I thought his last name was hilarious. Then came the time when Brian was getting all the playing time and I didn't know why. Then Gale was back, and I never heard Brian's name ever again mentioned. I didn't know why until long after the movie Brian's Song came out. By then I was in my early teens, and to this day, I remember those great times back in the late 60's and very early 70's.
Two of the best to play the game. I think that due to his shortened career, Sayers remains the most underrated player in NFL history (underrated in spite of his enshrinement in the hall of fame).
How I miss those good ole days of the NFL. I can’t stomach it anymore and have not watched it in about ten years. These MEN played for the love of the game not the love of money and fame. Sadly those days are gone forever. It was nice reliving it for a few mins. Thank you
Its too bad these two greats played when the Bears were during their losing years. But they left great memories and I can watch these clips over and over again.
I am so blessed to have seen these two warriors play the game the way it is supposed to be played. Gale Sayers was a first team All Pro in his first five years (1965-1969), Unfortunately, in his last two years in the league he played only in four games, two each in 1970 and 1971. He is the NFL's All-time Kickoff Return Average leader with 30.6 yds/return. Sayers was named Offensive Player of the Game in three of the four Pro Bowls in which he played. He was such great player that he was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1977 at the age of 34, the youngest Hall of Famer in NFL history. He was just an amazing player. Dick Butkus was just an animal and in my opinion the best middle linebacker of all time. The man has a trophy named after him for a reason. He played the game the way is supposed to be played at 100% intensity the entire game. The Bears were lucky that they were able to draft these two outstanding players in 1965, back to back.
There is STILL no running back like gale sayers before the knee injury. Dude had the sickest cuts. The best HB to enter the nfl. he could've done so much more with his career if he didn't get hurt.
Brett Hulett But he is definetly in the hall of fame. and He would've been if he didnt get hurt. yeah, he wasn't the best by numbers, but by skill im telling you man, his moves are one of a kind . Nobody had the cuts, accel, agility, speed, awareness, the NOTHING, like gale did.
100% correct. You have to be of a certain age to have seen it. He played behind the worst offensive line in the league. Those swivel hip moves. Even Barry Sanders didn't have some of those.
Oh for sure. His style running (those long steps) are unique and I've seldom seen them since. Its possible that had he not got hurt, his knees may have eventually gave out (a non contact injury) later on from his running style--we'll never really know. Sure dig 1960s & 70s football !!
I grew up watching Sayers and Butkus from a young boy, and I can say honestly: every kid who loved playing football, wanted to be Gale Sayers or Dick Butkus. All time greats.
And today's players would rip the shit out of those guys. Today's players are bigger, faster, quicker and stronger and there's more depth. The bell curve of talent peaks farther to the right today, so the guys in the 60s weren't playing against as talented of rosters. Watching a game played in the mud is about as boring a game as you'll ever see. I'd love to see you go up to today's players and tell them they aren't as much of a MAN as the guys from the 60s. By the way, bending over for the olde tyme guys doesn't make you tougher, little boy.
ultimtdisc Yes that is true but a whole lot has been lost by such a clinical game we now have to channel surf thru. It was way more fun back when it was just plain outside all the time. I can still see G going to the turf on that play that changed knee injury on backs forever.
I saw Butkus play in the LA Coliseum. I never missed when the Bears came into town. Brian Piccolo played his best game against the Rams, when Sayers was injured.
How about the game that was telecast when both Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers both had 3 touchdowns each. Before Brian had to fight his battle with Cancer. I loved the movie Brian's Song.
Anybody notice how great a form tackler Butkus was,but would still get you on the ground any way possible?????!!!! Insane!!! Sayers was the RB every kid wanted to be during that time!!!
My chin literally hit the floor when Butkus made that interception and he shook the ball in that receivers face. Hot damn that is my kind of football!!!
You need to find the footage of Butkus where he lined up as the quick tackle on the PATs on the left side. Snap was bobbled, Butkus broke toward the end zone and caught the PAT pass. He then held the ball toward the defender who swatted it out of his hands. Butkus laid him out about 5 minutes later and nobody on the opposing side did anything.......nothing.
If Sayers had stayed healthy he absolutely would have been the greatest ever. Twenty two tds as a rookie behind one of the worst offensive lines ever. Man played the equivalent of four and a half seasons and was a first ballot Hall of Famer
I STILL SAY THE TWO BEST HALFBACKS EVER WERE GAYLE SAYERS AND BARRY SANDERS....JIM BROWN WAS A TRUCK THAT CARRIED THE BALL AND RAN OVER AROUND AND THRU PEOPLE 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
I'm a big fan of Sayers, but it's not just dumb luck that brought him down. The style of running that made him great also made him more vulnerable than other great running backs. His head-up, dodge and dance style was brilliant, no doubt, but he was a knee injury waiting to happen. Guys like Peyton, Allen, Dickerson, Smith, and Brown met tacklers head on if they couldn't beat them clean, so they didn't expose their knees like Sayers did, and they had relatively healthy careers.
I've often said Sayers was the closest thing ever to Sanders. I actually think Sayers was faster in the open field than Barry. But there will never be another Barry Sanders. NOBODY ran like he did. NOBODY.......
The Gold Standard of Linebackers LoL CRUNCH. Tough Cub cookie. And as for Gale Sayers what can you say except for Legendary! His running style can never be duplicated again, EVER. Period. :)
Sayers and Butkus were the Chicago Bears. So loved watching them play in the best days of the NFL. Players were about the team and their city, playing with great passion.
The first time I saw Sayers was on an old black and white TV in my grandmother's living room. Sayers took a pitchout to the left (wide side of the field at that time). The corner and linebacker had perfect positions to string him out for a loss. Sayers sprinted to the sideline and then made a UFO turn up the field, and in the same vernacular, went to Warp 10. Fifty plus yards later-touchdown. If there are 50 yard runs, and there are, it doesn't seem right to even use the same words to describe what everyone who saw that game just witnessed.
I remember going to a Chicago game in 66' as I lived in the city then to my fiance and soon to be wife for another almost 50 years. I went to the game with some friends and when it started I the beautiful and intellectual running style of Sayers and how he just made the entire opposite defense look ridiculous. 60 yard runs and all that. Then the Bears defense comes out and I remember thinking Butkus was insane and how he was essentially the toughest and most aggressive bull I ever seen. Even above the roar of the crowd, you hear him collide with others and break bones and players
Im grateful to got to seeGale play iwas in 4th grade when i started watching foot ball i guess 1967 Big Dick i remember him big time players like that back then what made me a big huge Football Fan to this day. 10. 4 2020.
In '64 a group of us kids (12-15yo) were playing football outside Memorial Stadium when Butkus and another Illini player stopped to watch us for a few minutes. One of us invited them to join us, so they did for a series. Butkus joined the other team; I was the RB. I took the ball and ran smack into him. I was all of 5'2-3", maybe 100 pounds. He had that ferocious snarl on his face, picked me up almost over his head... I knew I was about to die... then gently laid me on the ground. I was shaking so it took me a minute to stand up... and he was laughing his ass off. He finally reached down and helped me up, shook my hand and the two of them walked off the field. I've loved him ever since and was so happy for his success both as a player and as a coach.
Yeah, Butkus didn't sneak up on anyone and he wasn't a late bloomer. He was brilliant at every level. He was amazing in high school, finished third in the Heisman voting in college (as a linebacker and center in the 60s), and defined the position in the NFL.
in that game against the 49ers he was pulled in the 3rd quarter with 5 tds.. he went in during the 4th quarter for a punt return that ending up being his 6th of the day... amazing
The Bears were driving for a touchdown late in that game and the fans wanted Sayers to score a seventh TD. They were chanting, "We want Sayers! We want Sayers!" Halas said no, not wanting to risk an injury. Can't blame him.
Sayers had his greatest game against the 49ers and his worst game against the 49ers. 6 TDs December 12 1965 and then on November 10 1968 he got hit by Kermit Alexander and blew out his knee. Never really the same after that, though he rushed for 1000+ yds. In 1969.
They may have won the division in '68 if Sayers didn't get hurt. Too bad because that was the closest they would get to the playoffs with Sayers and Butkus.
When I was young about 8 years old I saw him for the field and even at 8 years old I new he and Sayers were the pinnacle of what football players were supposed to be
Thanks for the memories dick & gale. You both were great to watch. I hope you guys are saved. May nothing but the best be yours forever in Jesus name amen
There was no one like # 40 for The Bears. ------------he was beautiful. -----------And I was a Colts / Broncos Fan ! -------------------------WolfSky9, 74 y/o
Gale Sayers was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. When it comes to Dick Butkus... somebody said it years ago... "Well, when they name an award after you, you had to have been pretty darn good."
Sayers has the most flexible hips I've ever seen. It's like his lower body is on a swivel and able to cut at huge angles while his torso remains directed down the field. Barry Sanders is close, but nobody else ever ran like that. This talent, and the fact that he had the will to come back from a serious knee injury in a time when few did, makes him a HOFer despite a short career.
imagine if he had played for the Packers with great oline Kramer,Gregg, etc how many yards he would of had. the Packers system was tailor made for Sayers the Lombardi sweep
He was like Earl Campbell. Not at all in terms of running style (at all), but in terms of having a just a few good years that were so damn good that it warranted inarguable HOF status.
Rip to Gale and Dick, you both left a mark on football that will never be forgotten
Rest in Peace Dick Butkus thank you for the great memories of Chicago Bears football you are a legend we will miss you 10 /5/23
I was in Marine boot camp. And my people would send me the news clippings of Gale Sayers And Dick Butkus. It kept me alive. God bless them both.
Semper Fi, brother
Thank you for your service. I was in Navy boot camp in late 1968. And after a couple of Navy schools, I was off to a guided missile destroyer off the coast of South Vietnam in a 1970 deployment and off the coast of South Vietnam and mostly off the coast of North Vietnam in a deployment in 1972. Sports was far from my mind!
@@davidsoule1252 Thank you for the service you gave us all. It's the bonding with others that share the same dangers. Each standing in harm's way. Each sharing the pride in their hearts for a job done. Each sharing the same pain of a loss. The morning of the loss of someone you know and depend on. And coming home only to be spit on by someone. Someone who can't feel enough to begin to understand what you have been through.
Thank each and every one of you. All of you
who made it back and those who couldn't.
@@theyarehere8919 Thank you. My older cousin was a medic in the Army and was spit on when he returned back. I still had a couple of years to go in the Navy after the Vietnam War. During my four years of college (G.I. Bill), I never mentioned to any of my college classmates that I was a Vietnam Veteran.
Thanks for your service dude 😎😎...ihe Bears aren't my team (Miss Ya Blue)... but I dig Chicago.... just my opinion
To me Sayers and Butkus are the two best NFL players ever. Butkus was a freaking monster and Sayers was poetry in motion.
I was born in 1949 and was 16 when Sayers and Butkus came to play...Sayers ran like a deer in a minefield while Butkus was an sbsolu
Absolute animal...
San Anto
Totally agree. I've been saying the same thing for many years now. I'm 63 YO and have seen all the Modern Day Greats. These 2 Chicago Bears were the Best. And the thing is, more than half of these highlight were in a losing effort.
Yeah, that is hard to argue for sure
I feel the same, right up until you mention Walter Payton.
Rip Gale Sayers. You truly are a legend nobody will forget. You were one of the most exiting players and you taught us a lot about life through your friendship with Piccolo.
I am a lifelong Bears fan and had the honor of meeting Pic and Gale (separately) before they died. They both signed my sandlot football. It is a great reminder of what they did for our society.
Just watched BRIAN'S SONG again recently. Same movie, same result, shedding of tears😢.
R. I. P. GAYLE SAYERS
R. I. P. BRIAN PICCOLO.
Butkus was the best linebacker ever. No one came close. He is one of the rare few who would still be all-pro in today's league of bigger and faster players. Having watched him on TV through the 60s and 70s I was beyond amazed to see a human being give it his all on every single play. He never gave up until the play was over; he'd run after someone even if he had no chance of catching him. He would stop a 240-pound running back cold and then lift him up and slam him into the mud or snow. The man was a born warrior who breathed fear and fire into the minds of the offense.
Auggie
What you said, about giving his all on every single play, that's another reason I consider Butkus the Best. What other player would've given his all on every single play when his team was losing as constantly as the Bears did back then? For instance,
from 1969 to 1973, the Bears only won 20 games, and yet Butkus was voted D P of the Y twice during that time. Voted #10 of the Top 100 NFL Players of All Time, the only Player of that top 10 to never play Post Season Football.
I guess you never watched L Taylor
I saw Taylor play. What's Your point? Taylor was an OLBer in a 3/4 Defense meaning he was an Edge Rusher or Glorified DE, hence his 132+Career QB Sacks and Paltry 9 Career INTs. He played on mostly winning teams during his career with the Giants, was on 2 SB winning teams and had multiple Pro Bowl/HOF Teammates. Butkus only played on 2 winning teams during his 9 year career. He never played Post Season football. He recorded 22 Career INTs. and 27 Career FRs ( Taylor recorded 11). Butkus was basically a 1Man Show with very little help from his Teammates, especially on Offense. Butkus also averaged 113 Tackles per 14 game seasons while Taylor averaged 82 Tackles per 16 game seasons over 13 years.
Butkus was voted #10 on the All Time 100 Greatest NFL Players. Taylor was voted #3. Of the Top 10, Butkus was the only Player to never play Post Season Football.
Lawrence Taylor was a great edge rusher, hard hitter and could snag a runner from behind. Since you are a Lawrence Taylor fan, who has more sacks in a single game, Dick Butkus or Lawrence Taylor?
Of course they didn't officially record sacks then, but that doesn't mean they didn't happen. Butkus knocked out two quarterbacks on 3 sacks while getting 6 on Dec. 13, 1970.@@richardzink6026
There will never be another linebacker as great as Dick Butkus!
Uhrlacher.
Lawrence taylor; Maybe ray Lewis, but butkus clearly in anyones top three.both were faster and better at pass coverage but butkus was like larry bird always in position if not the fastest guy.
kuechly
Butkus recorded 22 INTs. In 9 seasons. Taylor recorded 9 INTs. In 13 seasons. How was Taylor better than Butkus in Pass Coverage? Besides, Taylor spent the majority of his snaps rushing the QB.
Just Ray Nitschke
These two were amazing. Both outworked, and outplayed their bodies. Truly left it all on the field. Never met Butkus. Met Sayers at a radio remote back in ‘03. Chicago radio hack Mike North was running the broadcast. I’m not an autograph hound, but could not resist complementing Mr. Sayers and getting an autograph when he offered the opportunity on a break. Very friendly and gracious.
After the show the hack host and his partner walked past our table, I said “Thanks, Mike for the great show and the chance to meet a legend.” He pulled his hat down over his face as he walked by and pretended not to see us. A gracious legend treated us politely, and a useless radio chatterbox acted like we were asking him for money.
Rest In Peace Kansas Comet. Bears fan all my life, win or lose.
just beautiful to watch...its hard to believe that they only had 2 winning seasons with two of the greatest players of all time..
Hard to win football games when your team is QB challenged, which the Chicago Bears were for all of Butkus' and Sayers' careers. George Halas' single biggest mistake was allowing George Allen to leave the Bears. He should've retired in '65 and made Allen HC. Look what Allen did with the Rams and Redskins.
Which comedian once joked that Butkus was so tough that he held up his sweat socks with thumbtacks ?
I had the greatest offensive player ever and the greatest defensive player ever to watch each week during the late 60s as a youthful Bears fan.
I remember these two players so well. When football was fun to watch and the game was played like it was supposed to be.
Gale Sayers was a man a kid could look up to! I was a kid when these two men played and will never forget either one of them.
One of my favorite memories as a kid is, when the Bears played the Packers in Butkuss' rookie year, before the game the announcers were like, "Wonder what it'll be like when Butkus meets Jim Taylor!" Taylor was a hard nosed fullback for the Pack. Well, Taylor was running the "Green Bay Sweep" in the open field, and he met Butkus one on one. Butkus knocked him out cold. Chicago born and raised, Dick Butkus. The epitome of "Chicago Tough!!".
I'm gonna relay that story. Thanks.
THEY DID A PRESTONE ANT FREEZE COMMERCIAL WITH DICK BUTKUS KNOCK THE 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩 OUT OF DETROIT TE CHARLIE SANDERS AND SANDERS WAS A TOUGH DUDE😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
The pride of Chicago Vocational.
That’s a great story, runner.
But, you would think there would be some video to back that up, or at least a few stories about it.
Right?
BAHAHAHA.
I hate the Bears the Cubs the White Sox and the Bulls but been a Blackhawk admirer since I saw them play when I was in the 7th grade first hockey game I ever saw they beat the Rangers in the old Madison Square Garden on 48th and 8th Avenue it was a rough dirty City when I was 17 I got a tattoo in a carpenter shop in the basement tattoos were illegal in the city of New York at the time now everyone looks like a comic book specially ladies I don't like it on them but the guys makes them look tough even if they're not it is and art form spread a lot of diseases before the health department started to do checking them diligently
Old school NFL is the best. These guys played for little money and nothing but heart in every game.
Good point. Most of them had "real" jobs that had nothing to do with football or their notoriety as players. Read Jerry Kramer's "Green Bay Diary" to get a sense of what their life was like. So many great stories. And then read the sequel (25 years later). The game shaped them into good/great people.
Were on greenies and died young, all for your entertainment!
Yeah today every play is a flag
I'm a Detroit Lions fan .So I am somewhat familiar with the Bears .Detroit had a game with Chicago way back early 70's.Detroit had a receiver named Chuck Huges.He had a heart problem and went down after the tackle .The Lions were walking off field or something .Dick Butkus was the guy who signaled that the Lions had a guy down .He died on the field I believe. Butkus tried to get him help .
When they mention his name - think of that first .
Money changes players and fans.
The heart/soul of a man is the dream; the money and fame are feeble distractions to the authenticity of Life.
RIP Gale Sayers 1943-2020
RIP
The Greatest RB of All Time. Period.
RIP 💙 🇺🇸
Gale Sayers passed away just this past September. Rest in Peace, Gale.
Wow! I just came across this incredible video. I am an old guy who grew up watching these players....and many others of that period. I was never a Bears fan....but damn, there was no way you could not watch them. Two totally different people who really defined the Bears. Butkus was the ultimate player you loved to hate....or hated to love. He was a one man wrecking crew. I watched his final game and his emotional farewell. Hell, all of a sudden I became a Butkus fan. Gayle Sayers......you just can't say enough good about him. He was a class act in every sense of the word. That man had more talent and ability in his little finger than ALL of today's spoiled brats. Someone commented that "back then the players got little pay.......but they played with heart." Damn right! Too many of today's players are nothing more than grossly overpaid punks. Can you imagine Butkus or Sayers not honoring our Country? I would love to be able to let Dick Butkus loose on the likes of Colin Kaepernick.....and others. Unfortunately, the only way I can protest against that P O S is to never watch today's crap. Also, never patronize those who sponsor the games. Hell, it works for me.....may not for ya'll.....but give it a try.
It's a beautiful thing to watch Gale Sayers run with that football . Truly a one of a kind person with god given talent .
I was 5 and 6 years old when theses guys were playing. I’ve loved pro football from an early age. I am from a small town in southern New Mexico, started out as a Rams fan but switched to a Raiders fan in the late sixties, I am still a Raiders fan, will be until my last day. Praying that the Raiders will win one more Super Bowl before I leave this world. Roman Gabriel was my favorite player then but even when the Rams played against the Bears back then, I couldn’t hold back from cheering for Butkus and Sayers! I especially loved Butkus’ bone crunching hits!!!
At 3:29 he intercepts the ball, then turns and shows it to the receiver before he's even tackled. Badass.
Savage!
I watched that game when Sayers scored 6 touchdowns. He was unreal on the wet and muddy field. As for Butkus, I view him as the greatest linebacker ever. My most remembered game of Butkus when that Detroit player collapsed on the field, and Butkus was the one screaming to the Detroit people to get out there and take care of him. That player was no longer the enemy, the a human being who needed medical help really fast.
The way Sayers left defenders in the dust is something to behold. NOBODY ran like him.
To me Gale Sayers is perhaps the best running back that ever lived. The guy could do it all, and do it better than anyone else.
I saw Gayle in college. I coached 36 years in high school and college, seen about everyone from 58 on. I've never seen anything like Sayers in my life.
@@rcwbud52 For 3 and a half years ( '65 thru '68) Gale Sayers was the most exciting football player in the NFL. And maybe of all time. In '69 he came back from a serious injury to run for over 1000 yards. But he was never really the same. To me, he was the greatest running back of all time.
This guy was one of the most amazing running backs I've ever seen !
To show how great Butkus was, he won the defensive player of the year award when the bears only won 1 game that season.
They were afraid not to give it to him. LOL
Dick Butkus was the greatest middle linebacker in history. Period!
Gale Sayers was the greatest running back in history. Period!
@@carlweaver3243___Jim Brown is the greatest off all time. Loved Sayers as well
Opinions vary. But Sayers was the original Human Highlight film. Jim Brown was Boring.
I just loved to watch Gale Sayers run with the ball. He was amazing to see.
God-given talent. What memories.
No wonder that players were afraid of him. Dick Butkus did a great job. Gale Sayers ran like the wind , unbelievable.
It's too bad that knee injuries
shorten their careers. They were awesome.
God, I miss those days, when Football was Real!!
Yes, being "Old School myself, it was a great game back then. I remember watching Sayers and Butkus on black and white TV and going outside after the game to playing ball with my friends.
One game a week, and if you lived in the Central Time Zone it was over by 3pm. 1.5-2 hours to try to relive what you just saw before it got dark.
You and me both brother, those where the days.
Ok boomer
"he was bad man, he was nasty" what a great compliment from a pretty good linebacker himself. sam mills
Man he was a beast in those days
Gayer Sayers one of the top 5 running backs of all time. Notice, Butkus how he tackled, the way that is not taught anymore. He hit you with everything, and it ran threw the person. It was clean, not with his head, no spearing, with shoulders squared and wrapped with his arms. Both just beautiful, both of them.
It's funny listening to both Butkus and Sayers, they did not see themselves as superstars though they were . Both were very humble saying that they just loved to play . The great ones all have the same thing in common "the love of the game"
They got humble paychecks, too.
DICK BUTKUS WAS A COLD BEAST!!! THE EPITOME OF A HARD NOSED MIDDLE LINEBACKER, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GUY. WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP PLAYING BOYS CLUB FOOTBALL, I STRIVED TO BE AND PLAY LIKE DICK BUTKUS. HIS NAME ALONE GIVES ME CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU THINK OF THAT NAME YOU THOUGHT OF THE BEST MIDDLE LINEBACKER TO EVER PLAY THE GAME. A TRUE MANS MAN. GOD BLESS YOU DICK BUTKUS FOR SHOWING ALL OF US WHAT ITS LIKE TO HAVE HEART COURAGE AND TENACITY. WHAT A SUPREME LEADER AS WELL. HE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ATHELETS AND PEOPLE OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!
*****
Soft and feminine? lol If today's players were allowed to clothesline, spear, head slap and crush the QB like they did back then, there would be dead bodies all across the league. Yes, they were tough back then, but they're kind of tough today, too. And the toll yesterday's game took on the players was enormous. Why do you think these rules are there? Too many of those guys ended up as cripples, vegetables or both. The average life span of those guys is much less than the average American male. But you're rough, tough and hard to bluff because you sit on the couch and swill beer while watching them.
You may have chills down your spine, but just think how you'd feel with the football in your hands and seeing him closing on you ... fast!
two of my absolute favorite players.... EVER.PERIOD..... (RAIDER FAN)
Two of the best to ever play the game period. Today Dick Butkus would be penalized for the hits he made back in those days. That was football what they do today is shameful.
Lol. Floyd Peters said ," he put this move on me that made my body go one way and my mind go another "
Lol, I read your comment just before that quote.
Heard of butkus but never really took a moment to watch his clips. Straight monster
Indeed. As a life-long BEARS fan, I'm glad that you can recognize his greatness & ferocity. Another total beast was Jack Tatum of RAIDERS. They just don't make 'em like this anymore, man:
ua-cam.com/video/EWLjI8j0sB8/v-deo.html
Jason Pizzolato tatum was vicious for sure
Butkus is simply the very, very, best. The HUGE hits were clean. He used his shoulders, not the helmet. Perhaps even more important, the ferocity stayed on field.
The BEST linebacker EVER, enough said.🏈👍
sorry that title belongs to LT
@@jashapiro10 Butkus had 29 more lifetime takeaways than Taylor in 4 fewer seasons.
Taylor shouldn't be compared to Butkus. Butkus was a MLB with more responsibilities than Taylor, who was an OLB/ Edge Rusher. Taylor's main job was to Rush the QB.
The greatest running back of all times !! !!!
I had the opportunity to sit and have a few drinks, with Ray Nitschke in a little bar in Fargo-in the mid 70s. He was no slouch himself-but he had nothing but praise for Butkus, and amazement at what Sayers could do. Respect from your peers is the height of success in my book!
my dad was at the gale sayers game against the 49ers...he always tells me that he was the most amazing thing he has ever seen..... btw my fav. rbs are sanders. and earl campbell
You have good taste although I have to throw in Payton.
Earl and the Oilers deserved at least one SB chance. A shame they peaked during the first Steelers reign. They were definitely the second best team in the NFL in the '70s.
indy_go_blue60 Second would need to go to Dallas, don't you think?
I would've LOVED to have watched them but, I was raised watching Da Bears of the 80's with Samurai Mike and of course THE GREATEST EVER, SWEETNESS WALTER PAYTON!!!
its nice to see a man enjoy his work. My favorite.
Respect for the drive and talent of the great legends. Amazing
I love these NFL films. They're the best!
Possibly the best first round tandem chosen by one team in history.
This Lion fan agrees!
So does this Baltimore Colts fan...
Martin W Sapp and Brooks worked out okay
Name a better one. You can't.
Considering my NY Giants had a shot at either one with a first round draft pick....and they picked Tucker Fredrickson!!! Yikes!!!!
On Sunday afternoons, we'd go to my grandparents for dinner after church and chores, and then I would watch the Bears with my dad and grandpa. I was only a little kid, (a girl) and I don't remember Butkus, but I loved Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. I thought his last name was hilarious. Then came the time when Brian was getting all the playing time and I didn't know why. Then Gale was back, and I never heard Brian's name ever again mentioned. I didn't know why until long after the movie Brian's Song came out. By then I was in my early teens, and to this day, I remember those great times back in the late 60's and very early 70's.
Two of the best to play the game. I think that due to his shortened career, Sayers remains the most underrated player in NFL history (underrated in spite of his enshrinement in the hall of fame).
Just think of the numbers he would've put up if the Hash Marks were moved in '65 rather than '72.
How I miss those good ole days of the NFL. I can’t stomach it anymore and have not watched it in about ten years. These MEN played for the love of the game not the love of money and fame.
Sadly those days are gone forever. It was nice reliving it for a few mins. Thank you
Its too bad these two greats played when the Bears were during their losing years. But they left great memories and I can watch these clips over and over again.
Anytime that I watch films of Gale Sayers runs, I think of that line "I might as well try and catch the wind." Thanks Donovan.
I am so blessed to have seen these two warriors play the game the way it is supposed to be played. Gale Sayers was a first team All Pro in his first five years (1965-1969), Unfortunately, in his last two years in the league he played only in four games, two each in 1970 and 1971. He is the NFL's All-time Kickoff Return Average leader with 30.6 yds/return. Sayers was named Offensive Player of the Game in three of the four Pro Bowls in which he played. He was such great player that he was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1977 at the age of 34, the youngest Hall of Famer in NFL history. He was just an amazing player.
Dick Butkus was just an animal and in my opinion the best middle linebacker of all time. The man has a trophy named after him for a reason. He played the game the way is supposed to be played at 100% intensity the entire game. The Bears were lucky that they were able to draft these two outstanding players in 1965, back to back.
I was a home grown vikings fan, but had a sayers poster on my wall !! Says it all.
I had the honor to meet Gale Sayers as a teenager, he was a very gracious man.
Nice to see this again......two tremendous athletes.....made the game so good back in the day
There is STILL no running back like gale sayers before the knee injury. Dude had the sickest cuts. The best HB to enter the nfl. he could've done so much more with his career if he didn't get hurt.
He wasn't even the best Bears runningback.
Brett Hulett But he is definetly in the hall of fame. and He would've been if he didnt get hurt. yeah, he wasn't the best by numbers, but by skill im telling you man, his moves are one of a kind . Nobody had the cuts, accel, agility, speed, awareness, the NOTHING, like gale did.
100% correct. You have to be of a certain age to have seen it. He played behind the worst offensive line in the league. Those swivel hip moves. Even Barry Sanders didn't have some of those.
Oh for sure. His style running (those long steps) are unique and I've seldom seen them since. Its possible that had he not got hurt, his knees may have eventually gave out (a non contact injury) later on from his running style--we'll never really know. Sure dig 1960s & 70s football !!
karl b
I grew up watching Sayers and Butkus from a young boy, and I can say honestly: every kid who loved playing football, wanted to be Gale Sayers or Dick Butkus. All time greats.
Dick Butkus was and will always be thee best all-time MLB
FUCK RAY LEWIS
These two players in the first round, incomparable!
Butkus #3 Pick Overall and Sayers #4 Pick Overall. They also had a shot at Joe Namath, but took Steve DeLong at #6.
This is REAL FOOTBALL little boys. Mud, blood and Guts! Today's patsy clean turf doesn't compare to the conditions these MEN worked in and CONQUERED!
And today's players would rip the shit out of those guys. Today's players are bigger, faster, quicker and stronger and there's more depth. The bell curve of talent peaks farther to the right today, so the guys in the 60s weren't playing against as talented of rosters. Watching a game played in the mud is about as boring a game as you'll ever see. I'd love to see you go up to today's players and tell them they aren't as much of a MAN as the guys from the 60s. By the way, bending over for the olde tyme guys doesn't make you tougher, little boy.
ultimtdisc Yes that is true but a whole lot has been lost by such a clinical game we now have to channel surf thru. It was way more fun back when it was just plain outside all the time. I can still see G going to the turf on that play that changed knee injury on backs forever.
NFL players back then played for the game, and players now just do it for the money.
The Karniveron They played for money back then too, their just was not a lot of it like it is now.
+michael swanson
Very true. I read a book where Ty Cobb said athletes only played for the fame and the money back in the late 50s...
Growing up a BEAR FAN when we had BUTKIS N SAYERS Win or loose FOOTBALL WAS FUN. LOVED IT.
I saw Butkus play in the LA Coliseum. I never missed when the Bears came into town. Brian Piccolo played his best game against the Rams, when Sayers was injured.
How about the game that was telecast when both Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers both had 3 touchdowns each. Before Brian had to fight his battle with Cancer. I loved the movie Brian's Song.
Anybody notice how great a form tackler Butkus was,but would still get you on the ground any way possible?????!!!! Insane!!! Sayers was the RB every kid wanted to be during that time!!!
My chin literally hit the floor when Butkus made that interception and he shook the ball in that receivers face. Hot damn that is my kind of football!!!
You need to find the footage of Butkus where he lined up as the quick tackle on the PATs on the left side. Snap was bobbled, Butkus broke toward the end zone and caught the PAT pass. He then held the ball toward the defender who swatted it out of his hands. Butkus laid him out about 5 minutes later and nobody on the opposing side did anything.......nothing.
Of All of my favorite running backs. This is all of the talents in one. Sayers is the best.
I love looking at the old films.and listing to the guys and the music to go with it. It's nothing like those days
If Sayers had stayed healthy he absolutely would have been the greatest ever. Twenty two tds as a rookie behind one of the worst offensive lines ever. Man played the equivalent of four and a half seasons and was a first ballot Hall of Famer
no doubt about it
I STILL SAY THE TWO BEST HALFBACKS EVER WERE GAYLE SAYERS AND BARRY SANDERS....JIM BROWN WAS A TRUCK THAT CARRIED THE BALL AND RAN OVER AROUND AND THRU PEOPLE 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
Agreed and after that I would put OJ although people hate the man but he was a great runner
I'm a big fan of Sayers, but it's not just dumb luck that brought him down. The style of running that made him great also made him more vulnerable than other great running backs. His head-up, dodge and dance style was brilliant, no doubt, but he was a knee injury waiting to happen. Guys like Peyton, Allen, Dickerson, Smith, and Brown met tacklers head on if they couldn't beat them clean, so they didn't expose their knees like Sayers did, and they had relatively healthy careers.
Agreed
I remember watching Gale Sayers as a kid.
The kind of cross direction ability I didn't see until Barry Sanders.
Sanders is the only logical comparison, but Barry (who was fantastic) wasn't nearly as fast.
I've often said Sayers was the closest thing ever to Sanders. I actually think Sayers was faster in the open field than Barry. But there will never be another Barry Sanders. NOBODY ran like he did. NOBODY.......
My two favorite running backs to watch ever.
Wow I love watching those guys! Great memories from my youth!
The Gold Standard of Linebackers LoL CRUNCH. Tough Cub cookie. And as for Gale Sayers what can you say except for Legendary! His running style can never be duplicated again, EVER. Period. :)
Joseph Sunday... Ray Nitschke was no joke either..
I wish all Oklahoma defense players would watch this. It's called aggression! I wore his number in school and my nickname was Butkus. I admired him.
Gale Sayers is one of my favorite RBs of all time, and I wasn't even born yet to see him play.
RIP Dick Butkus. You were one of my favorites growing up
Sayers and Butkus were the Chicago Bears. So loved watching them play in the best days of the NFL. Players were about the team and their city, playing with great passion.
#40 I love the man, always have, always will. Man he was like Ali on the football field!
as smooth as melted butter gotdamn man gayle sayers one of the best to ever do it
And I'm afraid he's being slowly forgotten by todays fans. I'll bet you can find a good percentage of fans who don't even know who he is.
The first time I saw Sayers was on an old black and white TV in my grandmother's living room. Sayers took a pitchout to the left (wide side of the field at that time). The corner and linebacker had perfect positions to string him out for a loss. Sayers sprinted to the sideline and then made a UFO turn up the field, and in the same vernacular, went to Warp 10. Fifty plus yards later-touchdown. If there are 50 yard runs, and there are, it doesn't seem right to even use the same words to describe what everyone who saw that game just witnessed.
I remember going to a Chicago game in 66' as I lived in the city then to my fiance and soon to be wife for another almost 50 years. I went to the game with some friends and when it started I the beautiful and intellectual running style of Sayers and how he just made the entire opposite defense look ridiculous. 60 yard runs and all that. Then the Bears defense comes out and I remember thinking Butkus was insane and how he was essentially the toughest and most aggressive bull I ever seen. Even above the roar of the crowd, you hear him collide with others and break bones and players
Samuel Hsu 1
Gale Sayers, no one better. Great memories watching this.
The amazing duo, what talent.
3:59 - Love how the guy speaking respectfully of Butkus was himself wearing a 51 jersey.
I was a 9er fan and can remember the day Sayers ran wild with 4 touchdowns🍻✌🏽
Im grateful to got to seeGale play iwas in 4th grade when i started watching foot ball i guess 1967 Big Dick i remember him big time players like that back then what made me a big huge Football Fan to this day. 10. 4 2020.
The most beautiful runner who ever played. There was poetry in his moves and in his cuts.
In '64 a group of us kids (12-15yo) were playing football outside Memorial Stadium when Butkus and another Illini player stopped to watch us for a few minutes. One of us invited them to join us, so they did for a series. Butkus joined the other team; I was the RB. I took the ball and ran smack into him. I was all of 5'2-3", maybe 100 pounds. He had that ferocious snarl on his face, picked me up almost over his head... I knew I was about to die... then gently laid me on the ground. I was shaking so it took me a minute to stand up... and he was laughing his ass off. He finally reached down and helped me up, shook my hand and the two of them walked off the field. I've loved him ever since and was so happy for his success both as a player and as a coach.
The other Illinois player would have been Jim Grabowski, also an All-American.
Those two could play on my team, anytime any year, man were they an enjoyment to watch
Arguably the best pure natural talent at both positions.
I watched Dick Butkus when he played at Illinois you could hear him hit in the stands
And Butkus played both defense and offense at Illinois, as he did at CVS in high school.
My uncle was AD at the time. There's a reason they call it the Butkus Award in the NCAA.
Actually, it's the Butkus Award in high school, college and pro.
Yeah, Butkus didn't sneak up on anyone and he wasn't a late bloomer. He was brilliant at every level. He was amazing in high school, finished third in the Heisman voting in college (as a linebacker and center in the 60s), and defined the position in the NFL.
@@nesnejls Re-defined. He belonged to the Ray Nitschki school of linebackers.
in that game against the 49ers he was pulled in the 3rd quarter with 5 tds.. he went in during the 4th quarter for a punt return that ending up being his 6th of the day... amazing
The Bears were driving for a touchdown late in that game and the fans wanted Sayers to score a seventh TD. They were chanting, "We want Sayers! We want Sayers!" Halas said no, not wanting to risk an injury. Can't blame him.
Sayers had his greatest game against the 49ers and his worst game against the 49ers. 6 TDs December 12 1965 and then on November 10 1968 he got hit by Kermit Alexander and blew out his knee. Never really the same after that, though he rushed for 1000+ yds. In 1969.
They may have won the division in '68 if Sayers didn't get hurt. Too bad because that was the closest they would get to the playoffs with Sayers and Butkus.
When I was young about 8 years old I saw him for the field and even at 8 years old I new he and Sayers were the pinnacle of what football players were supposed to be
I loved to watch Sayers and Butkus in those days. Sayers glided as he ran. And, Butkus was a fierce defender who was feared.
Gale Sayers was the most exciting football player in history, maybe the most exciting athlete in history.
what about Jim Brown and Barry Sanders?????
@@ThePigbert Gale Sayers was a "Barry Sanders" before Barry Sanders and he was a "Devin Hester" before Devin Hester
Still trying to understand how Nebraska let him get away to of all places, Kansas.
@@ThePigbert
What about them? They were not more exciting than watching #40 play.
Thanks for the memories dick & gale. You both were great to watch. I hope you guys are saved. May nothing but the best be yours forever in Jesus name amen
Not a Bears fan, but Sayers, Butkus and Walter were football players everyone should respect. If you love football.
I love that the young Saints player that recognizes Butkus is also wearing number 51.
At 3:30 Butkus is all like,"you want the ball!? Come and get it!"
Kevin Lukas Yeah! These days he would have drawn a taunting penalty.
I know, like he needed to hit somebody.
There was no one like # 40 for The Bears. ------------he was beautiful. -----------And I was a Colts / Broncos Fan ! -------------------------WolfSky9, 74 y/o
Gale Sayers was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
When it comes to Dick Butkus... somebody said it years ago...
"Well, when they name an award after you, you had to have been pretty darn good."
Sayers has the most flexible hips I've ever seen. It's like his lower body is on a swivel and able to cut at huge angles while his torso remains directed down the field. Barry Sanders is close, but nobody else ever ran like that. This talent, and the fact that he had the will to come back from a serious knee injury in a time when few did, makes him a HOFer despite a short career.
+Marshall Duncan They way he turns on a dime when he put his foot down is a beauty to behold. So muCh torque
imagine if he had played for the Packers with great oline Kramer,Gregg, etc how many yards he would of had. the Packers system was tailor made for Sayers the Lombardi sweep
He was like Earl Campbell. Not at all in terms of running style (at all), but in terms of having a just a few good years that were so damn good that it warranted inarguable HOF status.
I was going to say, he faked that one guy out with his shoulders square to the tackler.
As a Baltimore Colts season ticket holder I was fortunate enough to see these rockstars play……history here folks !!!!!
🧢
I haven’t watched the NFL in years. If men like these still played I would.