The Chicago Bears’ first round draft pick in 1951, Gene Schroeder, has passed away at the age of 95.
Schroeder, the oldest NFL and Chicago Bears former player, died of natural causes on Tuesday in St. John, Indiana, his daughter Carole Schroeder confirmed.
‘He was just somebody who really loved his family, loved his life, loved his career,’ Carole told the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘He really appreciated all the time we had with him.’
‘I think of him as just a very accomplished person,’ she added.
The Bears selected Schroeder with the 12th overall pick in the 1951 NFL draft before he led the team with 461 receiving yards as a rookie. The Virginia product doubled as a wide receiver and safety during his time in the Windy City.
Schroeder was born in Washington, DC on March 3, 1929 and grew up around the US Capital before heading to Virginia for college.
Chicago Bears legend Gene Schroeder died of natural causes in Indiana at the age of 95
In his sophomore season with the Bears, Schroeder had an even better campaign before missing his third year and part of 1954 too serve in the Navy. While serving his country, Schroeder suffered a major injury that affected the rest of his career.
Schroeder wrapped up his NFL career in 1957with a single Pro Bowl appearance.
In a 2024 interview with the Sun-Times, Schroeder said he was ‘bitten by the football bug really, really early,’ and sat on his father’s lap to listen to broadcasts over the radio when he wasn’t playing out on the street.
He also admitted loathing the team he would later represent in the NFL.
‘I hated the Bears. They always beat my Redskins,’ he said.
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