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| Bears QB Rudy Bukich congratulates Sayers in a rare moment of rest following his third TD. |
Gale Sayers is most remembered for his amazing speed and agility that allowed him to weave his way through opponent defenses. His legendary Hall of Fame career began with a bang.
Selected in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, the “Kansas Comet” made an instant splash on the pro football scene. He scored an astonishing 22 touchdowns (14 rushing, 6 receiving, and 2 on returns) during his first pro season to set a then-NFL record for touchdowns in a season. His TD total that year remains a record for rookies.
One game in particular that year – a December 12 match up against the San Francisco 49ers – remains one of the great moments in NFL history. Sayers scored a record-tying six touchdowns on a muddy Wrigley Field as the Bears downed the 49ers, 61-20.
December 12, 1965 | ||||||
| San Francisco | 13 | 7 | - | 20 | ||
| Chicago | 13 | 14 | 13 | 21 | - | 61 |
Scoring Summary | ||||||
First Quarter | ||||||
| CHI - Sayers 80 pass from Bukich (PAT failed) CHI - Ditka 29 pass from Bukich (LeClerc kick) | ||||||
Second Quarter | ||||||
| SF - Parks 9 pass from Brodie (Davis kick) CHI - Sayers 21 run (LeClerc kick) SF - Crow 15 pass from Brodie (PAT Failed) CHI - Sayers 7 run (LeClerc kick) | ||||||
Third Quarter | ||||||
| CHI - Sayers 50 run (LeClerc kick) CHI - Sayers 1 run (PAT Failed) | ||||||
Fourth Quarter | ||||||
SF - Kopay 2 run (Davis kick) | ||||||
Statistics | ||||||
| Rushing | San Francisco - Willard, 10 for 24; Crow, 6 for 23; Brodie, 1 for 13; Lewis, 1 for -2. Chicago - Sayers, 9 for 113, 4 TDs; Arnett, 10 for 30, 1 TD, Bull, 6 for 25; Livingston, 3 for 14; Bukich, 1 for 1 | |||||
| Passing | San Francisco - Brodie, 19 of 37 for 250, 2 TDs, 1 INT; Mira, 4 of 7 for 22, 1 INT. Chicago - Bukich, 16 of 32 for 347, 3 TDs; Bull, 1 of 1 for 54. | |||||
| Receiving | San Francisco - Parks, 9 for 129; Willard, 3 for 22; Casey; 3 for 12; Messer 2 for 41; Kopay, 2 for 23; Crow, 1 for 15, 1 TD; McFarland, 1 for 14; Burke, 1 for 11; Stickles, 1 for 5. Chicago - Morris, 5 for 95; Jones, 3 for 113, 1 TD; Sayers, 2 for 89, 1 TD; Ditka, 2 for 45, 1 TD; Livingston, 2 for 15; Bivins, 1 for 35; Arnett, 1 for 8; Bull, 1 for 1. | |||||
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