Gary Lewis (running back)
Encyclopedia
Gary Roger Lewis was a professional American football
running back
in the National Football League
. He played seven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers
(1964–1969) and the New Orleans Saints
(1970). Lewis was one of three 1964 San Francisco 49ers teammates (with Bob Waters
and Matt Hazeltine
) who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played seven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(1964–1969) and the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
(1970). Lewis was one of three 1964 San Francisco 49ers teammates (with Bob Waters
Bob Waters
Robert Lee Waters was a successful American football coach and athletics director, best known for his contributions to athletics at Western Carolina University. Waters coached the football Catamounts for 20 football seasons , and performed the dual roll of athletic director from 1971–1986...
and Matt Hazeltine
Matt Hazeltine
Matthew Emory Hazeltine, Jr. was a professional American football linebacker who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants....
) who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.