Shaun Lanard Gayle (born March 8, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He played twelve seasons, eleven for the Chicago Bears (1984–1994), and one for the San Diego Chargers (1995). He attended Ohio State University and was drafted by the Bears in the tenth round of the 1984 NFL Draft.[1] He was a member of the Bears squad that won Super Bowl XX in 1985.[2] He was also a member of the "Shuffling Crew" in the video The Super Bowl Shuffle.
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
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| Born: | March 8, 1962 Newport News, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bethel (Hampton, Virginia) | ||||||||
| College: | Ohio State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1984 / round: 10 / pick: 271 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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He owns the distinction of returning the shortest punt for a touchdown in NFL history, when he returned a punt five yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants in the Bears 1985 divisional playoff victory. He is also known for delivering a late blow to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young while a member of the Bears. The incident occurred in the end zone during a playoff game after Young scored a rushing touchdown. Following the big hit, Young spiked the football in Gayle's direction, and Gayle was then confronted by other 49ers players in a brief melee.
He often appears with former teammates at Chicago Bears Fan Conventions, and works as an NFL analyst for Sky Sports, appearing on the weekly NFL broadcast.
Personal life
editMurder of Rhoni Reuter
editGayle had a relationship with Rhoni Reuter, originally of Potosi, Wisconsin. On October 4, 2007, Reuter was about seven months pregnant with Gayle's child when she was shot and killed at her condominium in Deerfield, Illinois. On March 3, 2009, a Chicago woman, Marni Yang, 41, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Yang was also in a relationship with Gayle.[3] It was alleged that Yang was wearing a disguise when she shot and killed Reuter in a jealous rage.[4] In March 2011, Yang was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing.[5]
The Deerfield police have stated that they did not consider Gayle to be a suspect in the murder.[6] Yang's attorney has asserted that Gayle provided false information to the police, and that his whereabouts were unknown for the time of the murder.[7] As of November 2020[update], the case was under judicial review.[7]
References
edit- ^ "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Bears Trounce Patriots, 46-10, in Super Bowl". Los Angeles Times. January 27, 1986. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Keilman, John (March 16, 2021). "'A bunch of smoke and mirrors.' Rhoni Reuter's brother says convicted murderer Marni Yang's exoneration effort should end". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- ^ Achenbaum, Emily S. (March 4, 2009), "Charges in slaying of Gayle's girlfriend, unborn child", Chicago Tribune
- ^ "Marni Yang guilty in ex-Bear girlfriend's murder". Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^ Dorian, Marc; Just, Emily (April 18, 2011). "Exclusive: Shaun Gayle on Obsessive Stalker". ABC News. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Keilman, John (November 10, 2020). "Marni Yang's attorney seeks new probe into murder of ex-Bear Shaun Gayle's girlfriend, questioning former player's alibi". Chicago Tribune.