Gale Sayers, a graceful and quick Chicago Bears running back whose elusiveness bedeviled defenses and delighted fans, has died, the team and the NFL announced Wednesday. He was 77.
Sayers was a fearsome competitor, but he was also famous for his character and fortitude.
The story of the Black football star’s friendship with a white teammate, Brian Piccolo, inspired the beloved 1971 TV movie Brian’s Song, after Sayers used his acceptance speech for the NFL’s Most Courageous Player award to praise his less-heralded friend who was battling cancer.
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