Willhite, Gerald ‘Steel Will’

Pro Set 1989, #112

CARD: Pro Set 1989
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/18 RECEIVED: 7/20 (63 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gerald Willhite played RB for the San Jose St Spartans from 1980-81.
  • He rushed for 1,000 yards in both years, and had 542 carries for 2403 yards and 20 TDs over his time there.
  • At the time he was only the second player in NCAA history who ran for 1,000+ yards and caught 50 or more passes.
  • Selected at the bottom of round one by the Denver Broncos in the 1982 NFL Draft.
  • A scatback ahead of his time, Willhite contributed nearly 1,000 yards al-purpose yards in his first 3 seasons, before topping out at 1,397 yards in 1985.
  • In 1986, became the first Bronco to have two 3-TD games in one season.
  • That same year, he set the team mark with 64 receptions for a runningback.
  • Early in the ’87 campaign against the Vikes, suffered a gruesome injury, breaking his leg in two places, a bone chip, and an injured ankle.
  • He returned the following year and played for the Broncos for two more seasons before officially hanging up the cleats.
  • At the time of his retirement, his 4.4 yards per carry was also a career franchise mark.

NOTES:

Gerald played just long enough to get some great card love from Pro Set and Score. I wanted to get both of them signed- but he kept the Score card. Still I’m grateful he took the time to pen this one. What a beauty.

Gerald was a plaintiff member of the concussion lawsuit against the NFL. The smallish, (5-10, 200) Willhite was a fearless runnner who loved to hit, but his little body took a pounding. Outside of his major injury, he took concussions, hamstring injuries, and other unreported knicks and tears every season he played.

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