Bears legend Gale Sayers battling dementia

Former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers is struggling with dementia after being diagnosed with the brain disease four years ago, according to Vahe Gregorian of The Kansas City Star.

Gregorian spent time with Sayers and his wife, Ardie, recently and describes a former star rusher whose comprehension of the things happening around him is becoming less clear.

Sayers was diagnosed with dementia four years ago, but his wife only recently decided to share the news publicly.

"Other people start making up stories, and people are asking about him more and more," she told Gregorian. "People must know."

Now 73 years old, Sayers became the youngest person inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was added in 1977 at age 34.

Despite the brevity of Sayers' seven-year NFL career - knee injuries limited him to a mere 68 games played and forced him into retirement before age 30 - he is widely considered to be one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in NFL history.

In what could be considered a sickeningly ironic turn of events, Ardie said her husband is now physically healthy "as a horse" and working out several days a week as his brain fails him.

In addition to knee injuries, Sayers has claimed he suffered multiple head injuries that were mishandled by the NFL. He filed a lawsuit against the league in 2013.