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Bill Wade
William James Wade Jr. (October 4, 1930 – March 9, 2016), often referred to during his playing career as Billy Wade, was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams (1954–1960) and Chicago Bears (1961–1966).
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Wade played college football for Vanderbilt from 1948 to 1951 and was selected as the most valuable player in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1951. He was the first player selected in the 1952 NFL draft, though his professional career was delayed by two years of military service. During the 1958 season, he led the NFL in both total passing yards and passing yards per game. He was traded to the Chicago Bears in 1961 and led the 1963 Bears to the 1963 NFL championship, scoring both touchdowns for the Bears in the 1963 NFL Championship Game.
In 11 NFL seasons, Wade completed 1,370 of 2,523 passes (54.3%) for 18,530 yards with 124 touchdowns and 134 interceptions. He also tallied 1,334 rushing yards on 318 carries (4.2 yards per carry) and 24 rushing touchdowns.
Wade was born in 1930 in Nashville, Tennessee. His father Pink Wade was the captain of the undefeated 1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
Wade attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville where he starred in tennis, football, baseball, and basketball. At age 14, he won the city boys' tennis championship. In December 1946, at age 16, he tallied 964 passing yards and was chosen by The Nashville Banner as the most valuable football player in the Interscholastic League. He was also selected as the Interscholastic League's most valuable baseball player in 1947, leading the league with a .533 batting average. He once struck out 21 batters in seven innings but turned down offers to play professional baseball. He also punted for the football team, averaging 44.0 yards a punt as a senior. Upon his graduation in June 1948, he was selected as the most outstanding boy and the best all-around athlete at the school.
Wade played college football for Vanderbilt University from 1948 to 1951.
As a junior in 1950, Wade broke Vanderbilt's single-season passing record with 1,597 passing yards. He fell 31 yards short of Babe Parilli who set a new Southeastern Conference (SEC) record with 1,628 passing yards in 1950. On September 30, 1950, he led Vanderbilt to a 41–0 victory over Auburn and set a new SEC single-game record with five touchdown passes. At the end of the season, Wade was selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) as the second-team quarterback (behind Babe Parilli) on the 1950 All-SEC football team.
As a senior in 1951, Wade completed 111 of 223 passes for 1,609 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 1,609 passing yards was 18 yards short of Parilli's SEC single-season record. He led the SEC and ranked third nationally with 1,643 yards of total offense. He received multiple awards and honors after the 1951 season:
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Bill Wade
William James Wade Jr. (October 4, 1930 – March 9, 2016), often referred to during his playing career as Billy Wade, was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams (1954–1960) and Chicago Bears (1961–1966).
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Wade played college football for Vanderbilt from 1948 to 1951 and was selected as the most valuable player in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1951. He was the first player selected in the 1952 NFL draft, though his professional career was delayed by two years of military service. During the 1958 season, he led the NFL in both total passing yards and passing yards per game. He was traded to the Chicago Bears in 1961 and led the 1963 Bears to the 1963 NFL championship, scoring both touchdowns for the Bears in the 1963 NFL Championship Game.
In 11 NFL seasons, Wade completed 1,370 of 2,523 passes (54.3%) for 18,530 yards with 124 touchdowns and 134 interceptions. He also tallied 1,334 rushing yards on 318 carries (4.2 yards per carry) and 24 rushing touchdowns.
Wade was born in 1930 in Nashville, Tennessee. His father Pink Wade was the captain of the undefeated 1921 Vanderbilt Commodores football team.
Wade attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville where he starred in tennis, football, baseball, and basketball. At age 14, he won the city boys' tennis championship. In December 1946, at age 16, he tallied 964 passing yards and was chosen by The Nashville Banner as the most valuable football player in the Interscholastic League. He was also selected as the Interscholastic League's most valuable baseball player in 1947, leading the league with a .533 batting average. He once struck out 21 batters in seven innings but turned down offers to play professional baseball. He also punted for the football team, averaging 44.0 yards a punt as a senior. Upon his graduation in June 1948, he was selected as the most outstanding boy and the best all-around athlete at the school.
Wade played college football for Vanderbilt University from 1948 to 1951.
As a junior in 1950, Wade broke Vanderbilt's single-season passing record with 1,597 passing yards. He fell 31 yards short of Babe Parilli who set a new Southeastern Conference (SEC) record with 1,628 passing yards in 1950. On September 30, 1950, he led Vanderbilt to a 41–0 victory over Auburn and set a new SEC single-game record with five touchdown passes. At the end of the season, Wade was selected by both the Associated Press (AP) and United Press (UP) as the second-team quarterback (behind Babe Parilli) on the 1950 All-SEC football team.
As a senior in 1951, Wade completed 111 of 223 passes for 1,609 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 1,609 passing yards was 18 yards short of Parilli's SEC single-season record. He led the SEC and ranked third nationally with 1,643 yards of total offense. He received multiple awards and honors after the 1951 season: