Billy Wade
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Billy Wade Legacy
HEYTC AIBilly Wade Rating Breakdown
Billy Wade Career Stats via Wikipedia
Billy Wade Career Timeline
HEYTC AI1967 1
Retirement from NFL
Billy Wade retired after the 1967 season following his time with the Redskins, concluding a notable career highlighted by a championship and Pro Bowl honors.
1966 1
Traded to Washington Redskins
Wade was traded from the Bears to the Washington Redskins, marking the end of his 6-year tenure with Chicago.
1963 3
2 Rushing TDs in Playoff Game
Billy Wade tied for 15th in playoff rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 2 scores on December 29, 1963, during the Bears' championship run.
Bears Win NFL Championship
Wade led the Chicago Bears to the NFL Championship victory over the New York Giants, 14-10, scoring both touchdowns on sneaks after interceptions of Y.A. Tittle passes by teammates.
NFL Passing Leader and Pro Bowl
Wade led the NFL in passing yards (2,898) and touchdowns (26), earning a Pro Bowl selection as one of the league's top quarterbacks.
1961 2
Traded to Chicago Bears
Shortly after being drafted, Wade was traded to the Chicago Bears, where he became the starting quarterback and played for 6 years.
Drafted by Los Angeles Rams
Billy Wade was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1961 NFL Draft. Exact round and pick number unavailable from available sources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Billy Wade
How does Caleb Williams compare to Billy Wade?
Billy Wade's got the hardware Caleb Williams is chasing—a 1963 Bears championship, two Pro Bowls, and 18,530 yards over 13 seasons—while Caleb's still dodging sacks in his rookie fog. Wade threw for 466 in a game once; Caleb's best is half that. Legacy? Wade's etched in stone; Caleb's scribbling in pencil.
Is Billy Wade in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Nah, Billy Wade never made it to Canton, despite quarterbacking the '63 Bears to an NFL title in that frigid Wrigley Field mud against the Giants, where he punched in both TDs off defensive takeaways. Two Pro Bowls and league passing leads in '61, but the Hall snubbed him—classic oversight for a pre-Super Bowl grinder.
How would Billy Wade perform in today's NFL?
Wade's gunslinger arm—2,875 yards in '58, 466 in a '62 Bears shootout—would feast under today's pass-happy rules with no bump-and-run corners or crown-of-helmet hits. His 33.84 career rating looks puny now, but drop him behind a modern O-line with quick releases? He'd carve up zones like a hot knife through Soldier Field butter.
How does Billy Wade compare to Jim McMahon?
Wade edged McMahon as a Bears starter with that '63 title run, but McMahon's 45.04 rating smokes Wade's 33.84, thanks to '85's Fog Bowl magic and sweeter mechanics. Wade slung it old-school, 18K yards total; McMahon was the punk-rock pocket pirate. Both cult heroes, but ratings don't lie—Jim's the efficiency king.