Bill Wade, former NFL QB and No. 1 draft pick, dies at 85

By foxsports
Published

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Bill Wade, a former No. 1 overall draft pick who played 13 seasons in the NFL, has died. He was 85 years old.

Sharon Wade Kinser, Wade's daughter, said Thursday he died of natural causes Wednesday night at The Meadows senior community in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Los Angeles Rams selected the former Vanderbilt quarterback with the top overall pick in the 1952 draft. After serving two years in the Navy, Wade threw for 124 touchdowns and 18,530 yards while playing for the Rams from 1954-60 and for the Chicago Bears from 1961-66. He helped Chicago win the 1963 NFL championship.

Wade played for Vanderbilt from 1949-51. He was the Southeastern Conference player of the year and an Associated Press All-America second-team selection his final season with the Commodores.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL