Sayers' relationship with teammate Brian Piccolo was immortalized in the 1971 movie "Brian's Song." Piccolo and Sayers played together for five seasons before Piccolo died of cancer in 1970.

But the great legacy lesson of Gale Sayers — who died in 2020 — remains his life’s impact. Specifically, his racial boundaries-breaking bond with his Chicago Bears teammate Brian Piccolo, a ...

Many casual fans might know Sayers through the 1971 movie “Brian’s Song,” which chronicled Sayers’ friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer.

Chicago Bears teammates of Brian Piccolo carry his coffin into Christ the King Church for funeral services in Chicago. From left, front to back, are Randy Jackson, Dick Butkus, and Gale Sayer.

BILLY DEE WILLIAMS: (As Gale Sayers) I loved Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. And tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.

In 1968, Piccolo helped Sayers through a tough rehab process while he recovered from a torn ligament in his right knee. After Sayers returned the next season to become an All-Pro, he made sure his ...

“But Gale just ran circles around everybody. Quickly, they adopted him.” The friendship between Sayers and backfield mate Piccolo began in 1967, when the two became unlikely roommates.

Sayers was an All-Pro during the first five of his seven NFL seasons (1965-71). But he was stuck on a handful of middling-to-bad Bears teams and, like Dick Butkus, another Hall of Fame teammate ...