Willie Gault facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willie Gault

Gault at the Inaugural Dignity Gala on October 18, 2013
No. 83
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1960-09-05) September 5, 1960 (age 64) Griffin, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school:	Griffin
College:	Tennessee
NFL Draft:	1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18
Career history
Chicago Bears (1983–1987) Los Angeles Raiders (1988–1993)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XX) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1983) 100 greatest Bears of All-Time First-team All-American (1982) First-team All-SEC (1982)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 333 Receiving yards: 6,635 Touchdowns: 44 Kickoff returns: 45 Kickoff return yards: 1,088
Player stats at PFR

Willie James Gault (born September 5, 1960) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders.

Willie Gault was known as one of the fastest NFL players ever. He was part of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. He was also chosen for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980. However, the U.S. did not participate in those Olympics.

Gault played college football at the University of Tennessee from 1979 to 1982. He was a top player, leading his team in all-purpose yards for three years. In 1982, he was named to the All-American team. He still holds several school records for kickoff returns.

After his football career, Gault started acting. He also continued to compete in masters athletics. He has set world records in sprint races for different age groups.

Early Life and High School Sports

Willie Gault grew up in Griffin, Georgia. His parents worked in a textile factory. He played football and ran track at Griffin High School.

In high school, Gault was a talented athlete. During his junior year, he helped his team tie for the state championship. In his senior year, he caught 33 passes and scored 7 touchdowns. He was named All-State in both his junior and senior seasons.

College Football at Tennessee

Willie Gault played football for the University of Tennessee. This school was known for producing great wide receivers. Several of Gault's teammates also went on to play in the NFL.

During his four years at Tennessee, Gault caught 89 passes for 1,482 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns as a receiver. He also returned 78 kickoffs for 1,854 yards and four touchdowns. Additionally, he returned 78 punts for 659 yards and one touchdown.

Key Moments in College Football

In 1980, Gault had a standout year. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, which tied a national record. One of these was a 100-yard kickoff return. He also had a 92-yard return and a 98-yard return in back-to-back games.

In 1981, Gault continued to be a strong return man. He had a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss. He also had a 75-yard touchdown pass against Alabama.

As a senior in 1982, Gault was named a Preseason All-American. He caught 50 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Gault helped Tennessee break an 11-year losing streak against Alabama.

College Records

Willie Gault still holds several school records at Tennessee. His 1,854 career kickoff return yards is a school record. His 2,513 total return yards is also a school record.

His 27.6 yards per kickoff return in 1980 is a single-season record. His 987 total return yards in 1981 is another single-season record. Gault's 4,035 career all-purpose yards is the second-highest in school history.

College Track and Field Achievements

Willie Gault

Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  United States
Olympic Boycott Games
Gold	1980 Philadelphia	4 × 100 m relay
Bronze	1980 Philadelphia	100 m
World Championships
Gold	1983 Helsinki	4 × 100 m relay
Bronze	1983 Helsinki	110 m hurdles

Willie Gault was also an amazing track and field athlete. He qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. He would have competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. However, the United States decided not to send its athletes to those games. Gault was one of 461 athletes who received a Congressional Gold Medal because of this.

Gault set records in the 110-meter high hurdles in 1981 and 1982. In 1983, he won the 60-yard hurdles at the SEC indoor championships. He also won the 60-yard high hurdles and the 60-yard dash at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

In 1983, Gault was part of a team that set a world record. This was for the 4 × 100 meter relay at the World Championships. He also won a bronze medal in the 100-meter race at the Liberty Bell Classic. Gault even made the 1988 Winter Olympics bobsledding team as an alternate.

Professional Football Career

The Chicago Bears picked Willie Gault in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. He quickly made an impact in his first season. He was known for his incredible speed.

Chicago Bears (1983–1987)

During the Bears' amazing 1985 season, Gault caught 33 passes for 704 yards. This was the most on his team. His best game that year was against Minnesota, where he caught six passes for 146 yards.

In Super Bowl XX, the Bears beat the New England 46–10. Gault had a great game with four catches for 129 yards. He also returned four kickoffs. At the end of the 1985 season, Gault helped organize his teammates to perform the "Super Bowl Shuffle". This was a rap song and music video that raised money for charity. Gault sang one part of the song.

In 1986, Gault continued to play well. He finished the season with 42 catches for 818 yards.

Los Angeles Raiders (1988–1993)

Before the 1988 season, Gault was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders. He continued to show his speed and skill. In 1989, he had 147 yards on just two catches in a game against Cincinnati.

In 1990, Gault had his best season for catches and yards. He caught 50 passes for 985 yards. He also helped the Raiders beat his old team, the Chicago Bears. The Raiders did not re-sign Gault after the 1993 season.

Fastest Man Competition

Even though he was super fast, Gault never won the NFL's "Fastest Man" competition. He came in second place twice. In 1986, he lost to Darrell Green. In 1990, he lost to Ron Brown.

Gault often played against Darrell Green, who was also very fast. They had many exciting matchups. In a 1984 playoff game, Gault beat Green for a 75-yard touchdown. In a 1986 playoff game, Gault had five catches for 82 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown, while being covered by Green.

Willie Gault finished his 11 NFL seasons with 333 catches for 6,635 yards. He scored 45 touchdowns in total.

NFL Career Statistics

Life After Football

After retiring from football in the early 1990s, Willie Gault started an acting career. He has appeared in several TV shows. He played Willie the Sweeper in the NBC series The Pretender. He also appeared as himself in the sitcom Still Standing. Gault was also featured in the series finale of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.

In 2010, Gault joined other members of the 1985 Chicago Bears to bring back the Super Bowl Shuffle. This was for a commercial during Super Bowl XLIV.

Gault has continued to be very active in Masters athletics. This is a sport for older athletes. In 2006, at age 45, he set a world record in the 100 meters. In 2008, at age 47, he set a new world record in the 200 meters. In 2011, he set world records for the 50–54 age group in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.

Willie Gault has been recognized for his achievements. In November 2016, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2019, Gault was inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Willie Gault para niños