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.

RUSH	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
380	1688	4.4	17	52

REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
207	1767	8.5	5	63

KR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
26	521	20.0	0	40

PR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
101	1012	10.0	1	70