The Chicago Bears over the decades are known for their great Linebackers and Running backs. No other team in league history has had more elite and talented ball carriers. Just a partial list reads off like a roll call to the Hall of Fame: Nagurski, Grange, Sayers, Payton, and Forte.
Ask any Chicago fan under the age of 60 to list their top RBs, it would not be surprising to see one the greatest backs in Bears History left off their list.
28 days from today, the team will assemble in Lake Forest, IL to begin the 2023 season in earnest. The jersey number 28 was retired to honor this forgotten great: Willie Galimore.
Galimore attended Florida A&M University and was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference choice four times. Willie was the first RB in program history to run for 1,000 yards when he totaled 1,203 in 1954. He is a member of the Black College Hall of Fame.
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According to many Galimore is renowned for being one of the last great steals of the draft before NFL scouting became more sophisticated. Nicknamed Willie “The Wisp” due to his blazing speed, Galimore was lightning fast and ran the 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds. Halas selected Galimore in the 5th round of the 1957 draft.
In just his second game with the Bears, Willie The Wisp caught a pass for a 56-yard TD from Ed Brown. Throughout his career Galimore delighted Bears fans with long runs and receptions; the longest run of his career was 77 yards, and the longest reception was 84 yards.
Named to the Pro Bowl in 1958, Galimore was part of Head Coach George Halas’ RB by committee. He led the team in carries only once in his seven-year career. Willie scored 11 times in 1958 and had 1,209 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs in 1961, the only season he led the team in carries. In 1963, his 27-yard touchdown run helped the Bears defeat Green Bay, paving the way to the Championship game.
In the Summer of 1964, the team held their training camp at St. Joseph’s College, located in nearby Rennselaer, Indiana. On July 27th, Galimore and teammate Bo Farrington were returning to St. Joseph’s College when tragedy struck.
Galimore lost control of his vehicle, failed to negotiate a curve, and ran off the road. The car flipped over and ejected both players. According to Police reports, Farrington died instantly. Willie was taken to Jasper County Hospital but perished shortly after arrival.
George Halas retired Galimore’s number 28 in his honor.
In 2019, in honor of the Bears’ 100th anniversary, the Chicago Tribune published the top 100 Bears, listing Willie the Wisp at number 60.
Willie was a terrific RB. Very unfortunate what happened to him and Bo. He is often caught in a time warp where most current fans under the age of 60 might not recall his capabilities and talent. I liketo think that he’s looking down on the Bears this season as they enter the 2nd phase of their rebuild.
Still a younger Bear fan, 46 years old. Thank you for tge history of our famed Bears!
I really enjoy these interesting Bears history articles.
Yes, I remember that and the next year Halas went and got Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus. I wonder if Halas would’ve gotten Sayers if Willie was still alive at that time. We’ll never know!
nice