The one-time SEC MVP led the Chicago Bears to an NFL Championship in 1963.
Bill Wade, the gold standard for Vanderbilt football players, passed away on Wednesday. He was 85 years old.
Wade went 26-16-1 in his college career and played on a 1950 Commodore team that was ranked as high as 13th in the AP poll. He was named the SEC's Most Valuable Player in 1951 and was the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick in 1952. He spent seven years with the Los Angeles Rams and led the league in passing yards in 1958.
After seven seasons in LA, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in 1961 and remained an impact player in the latter stage of his career.