Bill Wade facts for kids
Wade with Donna Reed, 1959
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | October 4, 1930 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died: | March 9, 2016 (aged 85) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Montgomery Bell Academy | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Vanderbilt | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1952 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||||
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William James Wade (born October 4, 1930 – died March 9, 2016) was an amazing American football quarterback. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). Many people consider him one of the best athletes ever from Nashville and Vanderbilt University. Bill Wade is also a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. He is most famous for being the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears team that won the NFL championship in 1963.
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Bill Wade's College Football Career
Bill Wade played college football for Vanderbilt University. He was a star player there! He earned the title of the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Most Valuable Player. He was also named a second-team All-American, which means he was one of the best players in the whole country.
Wade showed off his skills in several important college games. He was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 1951 North–South Shrine Game in Miami. He also played in the Senior Bowl in 1952. Plus, he was chosen to play in the College All-Star Game in Chicago, where top college players competed against professional teams.
Playing in the NFL: Bill Wade's Pro Career
Bill Wade was a very talented player, so much so that he was the very first player picked in the 1952 NFL draft. The Los Angeles Rams chose him! However, he didn't join the team right away. He served in the military first and then started playing for the Rams in 1954.
Wade played as quarterback for the Rams for seven seasons. His best year with the Rams was 1958. That year, he led the entire NFL in passing yards, throwing for 2,875 yards!
In 1961, Bill Wade asked to be traded to the Chicago Bears. He moved to the Bears along with his teammates Del Shofner and John Guzik. With the Bears, Wade continued to shine. In 1962, he led the league in pass completions and attempts. He also threw for an amazing 466 yards in one game, which was almost the most in Bears history at the time! He was the first Bears quarterback to have four games in one season where he threw for over 300 yards.
His biggest achievement came in 1963. He led the Chicago Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship Game. In that game, played in very cold weather at Wrigley Field, Wade scored both of the Bears' touchdowns. These touchdowns came after the Bears' defense forced turnovers. His efforts helped the Bears win the championship 14–10 against the New York Giants!
After he stopped playing football in 1966, the Bears offered him a job as their quarterbacks coach. He coached for one year. He was even offered the chance to become the head coach for the team, but he decided not to take the job.
Bill Wade's Life After Football
Bill Wade was honored for his great career by being named to the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame. He was part of the very first group of people to be inducted into this Hall of Fame.
Later in his life, Bill Wade faced challenges with his eyesight. He passed away on March 9, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee. Even when he couldn't see the games, he remained a big fan of the Chicago Bears!
Images for kids
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Wade with Donna Reed, 1959
