View source for Willie Gault

{{Short description|American football player (born 1960)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Willie Gault
| image       = Redlight Traffics Inaugural Dignity Gala (10359055934) (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Gault at the Inaugural Dignity Gala on October 18, 2013
| number      = 83
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1960|9|5}}
| birth_place = [[Griffin, Georgia]], U.S.
| position    = [[Wide receiver]]
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lbs  = 178
| high_school = [[Griffin High School (Georgia)|Griffin]]
| college     = [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]]
| draftyear   = 1983
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 18
| pastteams   = * [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1983}}–{{NFL Year|1987}})
* [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1988}}–{{NFL Year|1993}})
| highlights  = *[[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XX|XX]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1983|1983]])
* [[Chicago Bears#Top 100 greatest Bears of all-time|100 greatest Bears of All-Time]]
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1982 College Football All-America Team|1982]])
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1982 All-SEC football team|1982]])
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 333
| statlabel2  = Receiving yards
| statvalue2  = 6,635
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 44 <!-- This includes receiving, rushing, and passing -->
| statlabel4  = Kickoff returns
| statvalue4  = 45
| statlabel5  = Kickoff return yards
| statvalue5  = 1,088
| pfr         = GaulWi00
}}

'''Willie James Gault''' (born September 5, 1960) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 11 seasons with the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[Los Angeles Raiders]]. Considered one of the fastest NFL players of all time,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodess |first=Doug |date=April 16, 2011 |title=The Top 25 Fastest Players in NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/665410-the-top-25-fastest-players-in-nfl-history |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> Gault was a member of the Bears team that won [[Super Bowl XX]]. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Olympics]].

Gault played college football at the [[University of Tennessee]] from 1979 to 1982.  He led the Vols in all-purpose yardage as a sophomore, junior and senior,<ref>[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Career Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com, p. 342. Retrieved: August 8, 2013.</ref> and was named to the [[1982 College Football All-America Team|All-American team]] in 1982.  He still holds numerous school kickoff return records.<ref name=records>[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Career Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com. Retrieved: August 8, 2013.</ref>

Gault married his high school sweetheart, writer/author/actress Dainnese Mathis Gault in 1983. They were married from 1983 to 2002 and have two children. His youngest child is rising painter, artist, Gabe Gault <ref>https://canvasrebel.com/meet-gabe-gault/</ref>

Gault is currently pursuing a career as an actor.  He also remains active in [[masters athletics]], setting [[List of world records in masters athletics|world masters records]] in the [[List of world records in masters athletics#100 metres|100 metres]] and [[List of world records in masters athletics#200 metres|200 metres]] [[Sprint (running)|dashes]] for the 45–49, the 50–54, and the 55–59 age groups.

==Early life==
Gault was born and raised in [[Griffin, Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lidz |first=Franz |date=June 6, 1983 |title=Will Willie go for the gold or gold? |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/06/06/will-willie-go-for-the-gold-or-gold |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us}}</ref>  He was named for his mother, Willie Mae.  Both of his parents worked in a textile mill.  He later recalled that his classmates  considered him a "teacher's pet."<ref name="newman">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Bruce |date=November 24, 1986 |title=GAULT IS DIVIDED INTO MANY PARTS |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1986/11/24/gault-is-divided-into-many-parts-ballet-dancer-model-entrepreneur-and-track-star-willie-gault-also-catches-passes-for-the-chicago-bears-when-the-quarterback-throws-to-him-that-is |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us}}</ref>

Gault played football and ran [[track and field|track]] for [[Griffin High School (Georgia)|Griffin High School]].  He had two receptions for 19 yards in Griffin's 7–7 tie against [[Valdosta High School|Valdosta]] in the AAAA State Championship Game during his junior year.<ref>[http://ghsfha.org/statechamps.php?aChampID=142 1978 GHSA AAAA State Championship Game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315201050/http://ghsfha.org/statechamps.php?aChampID=142 |date=March 15, 2013 }}, Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Retrieved: August 8, 2013.</ref>  He had a 48-yard touchdown catch for the North team in the 1979 GACA North/South Game (a preseason all-star game).<ref>[http://ghsfha.org/allstargames.php?gAllStarGameID=28 1979 GACA North/South] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307083723/http://ghsfha.org/allstargames.php?gallstargameid=28 |date=March 7, 2016 }}, Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Retrieved: August 8, 2013.</ref>  During his senior year, he caught 33 passes and scored 7 touchdowns, averaging 19 yards per catch.  He was named All-State following his junior and senior seasons.<ref name=79bio>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=740&pg=58 1979 Signees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041130/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=740&pg=58 |date=March 4, 2016 }}", ''1979 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 56.</ref>

==University of Tennessee==

===Football===
Gault played football at Tennessee during an era when the school was acquiring its reputation as "Wide Receiver U."  Three of Gault's teammates— [[Anthony Hancock (American football)|Anthony Hancock]], [[Clyde Duncan]], and [[Tim McGee]]— would be first-round NFL Draft picks, and three others— [[Mike Miller (wide receiver)|Mike Miller]], [[Lenny Taylor]] and Darryal Wilson— would be drafted in later rounds.  During his four years at UT, Gault caught 89 passes for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns, returned 78 kickoffs for 1,854 yards and four touchdowns, and returned 78 punts for 659 yards and a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/willie-gault-1.html |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

During the regular season of his freshman year in 1979, Gault caught three passes for 95 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown in Tennessee's 51–18 win over [[Utah Utes football|Utah]].  He had a team-leading four catches for 22 yards in the Vols' 27–22 loss to [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] in the 1979 [[Bluebonnet Bowl]].<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=741&pg=44 1980 Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061421/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=741&pg=44 |date=March 4, 2016 }}", ''1980 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 43.</ref>

Gault's breakout year came during the [[1980 Tennessee Volunteers football team|1980 season]].  Though he caught a relatively modest 14 passes for 240 yards while splitting time with Miller at receiver, he returned 24 kickoffs for 662 yards, and tied a national single-season record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns.  He returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to provide Tennessee's lone score in the team's 30–6 loss to [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh]].  He then returned kickoffs for touchdowns in back-to-back games at the end of the season: a 92-yarder against [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] and a 98-yarder against [[Vanderbilt Commodores football|Vanderbilt]].<ref name=81bio>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=45 1981 Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203153141/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=45 |date=December 3, 2013 }}", ''1981 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 43.</ref>  Calling the latter play for the Vol Network, long-time broadcaster [[John Ward (broadcaster)|John Ward]] shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, Willie Gault has run all the way to the [[Tennessee State Capitol|State Capitol]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glennon |first=John |date=June 2, 2017 |title=Former Vol Gault Sprints Into State Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/jun/2/former-vol-gault-sprints-into-state-sports-hall-of-fame//print |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Memphis Daily News}}</ref>  Gault added a 48-yard touchdown catch in the Kentucky win.<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=89 Life Becomes Cheery As Streak Ends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013190812/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=89 |date=October 13, 2016 }}", ''1981 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 87.</ref>

During his junior year in 1981, Gault caught 22 passes for 479 yards and four touchdowns while continuing to split time with Miller.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Caleb |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Tennessee football: Top 10 Vols who played for Johnny Majors |url=https://allfortennessee.com/2020/06/04/tennessee-football-top-10-majors-players/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=All for Tennessee |language=en-US}}</ref> He added to his reputation as a dangerous return man, with 28 kickoff returns for 606 yards, and 31 punt returns for 381 yards and a touchdown.  In Tennessee's 28–20 win over [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]], Gault had a 54-yard kickoff return, a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown, and a 49-yard punt return.  He returned a punt 66 yards for an apparent touchdown against [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]], but it was called back on a penalty.  He caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the Vols' loss to [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], and registered a 49-yard touchdown catch against [[Memphis Tigers football|Memphis State]].  He had 217 receiving yards against Vanderbilt, including an 80-yard touchdown catch and a 72-yard reception.<ref name=82bio>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=742&pg=47 1982 Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033120/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=742&pg=47 |date=March 4, 2016 }}", ''1982 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', pp. 45–46.</ref>  In Tennessee's 28–21 win over [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin]] in the [[1981 Garden State Bowl]], Gault returned a kickoff 87 yards for the Vols' first touchdown of the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=White Jr. |first1=Gordon S. |last2=Times |first2=Special To the New York |date=1981-12-14 |title=VOLS WIN IN GARDEN STATE BOWL, 28 TO 21 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/14/sports/vols-win-in-garden-state-bowl-28-to-21.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gault entered his senior year a Preseason All-American.<ref name=82bio />  As part of an explosive receiving corps that included Mike Miller, Lenny Taylor and Darryal Wilson, Gault registered a team-leading 50 catches for 668 yards and four touchdowns.  He also registered 23 kickoff returns for 549 yards and a touchdown, and 20 punt returns for 145 yards.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120955/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=86 1982 Offensive Statistics]", ''1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 89.</ref> He caught touchdown passes of 78 yards and 38 yards in Tennessee's 24–14 loss to Auburn,<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 First Jackson, Then James, Too Much for Vols in SEC Opener] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122300/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 |date=May 17, 2014 }}", ''1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 84.</ref> and returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the Vols' 24–24 tie against [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]].<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 Gault Kickoff Return Ignites Vols Against LSU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122300/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 |date=May 17, 2014 }}", ''1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 85.</ref>  Gault caught a 52-yard touchdown pass in Tennessee's 35–28 win over Alabama, helping the Vols break an 11-year losing streak to the Tide.<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 Hungry Vols Put End to Alabama 11-year String] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122300/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=82 |date=May 17, 2014 }}", ''1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p. 85.</ref>  He caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in Tennessee's 28–22 loss to [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] in the 1982 [[Peach Bowl]].<ref>"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=86 Rally Falls Short As Vols Bow to Iowa in Peach Bowl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120955/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=86 |date=May 17, 2014 }}", ''1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide'', p.  88.</ref>   He was named an All-American at the end of the  season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/willie-gault/12228 |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

As of the 2012 season, Gault's 1,854 kickoff return yards and 2,513 total return yards remain  school records.  His 27.6 yards per kickoff return in 1980 and his 987 total return yards in 1981 remain school single-season records.<ref>[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Football Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com, pp. 325–326. Retrieved: August 11, 2013.</ref>  Gault's mark of 4,035 career all-purpose yards is the second-highest tally in school history, trailing only [[Stanley Morgan]]'s 4,642.  His 273 all-purpose yards against Auburn in 1982 and 268 against Vanderbilt in 1981 remain the second and third-highest single game tallies in school history, trailing only [[Chuck Webb]]'s 294 yards in the 1989 Ole Miss game.<ref>[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Football Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com, p. 342.</ref>

===Track and field===
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Track and field athletics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[1980 Olympic boycott|Olympic Boycott Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Liberty Bell Classic|1980 Philadelphia]] | [[Athletics at the 1980 Olympic Boycott Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[Liberty Bell Classic|1980 Philadelphia]] | [[Athletics at the 1980 Olympic Boycott Games|100 m]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]] | 4 × 100 m relay}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]] | [[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 110 metres hurdles|110 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Gault qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team and would have participated in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in Moscow had the United States not [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycotted the event]]. He was one of 461 athletes to receive a [[List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Caroccioli|first1=Tom|last2=Caroccioli|first2=Jerry|title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games|year=2008|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=Highland Park, IL|isbn=978-0942257403|pages=243–253}}</ref>
Gault set a record in the 110-meter high hurdles at the SEC track and field championships in May 1981.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Hb8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NkcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3890,3330790&dq=willie-gault+georgia&hl=en UT Leads Field], ''Daily News'' (Bowling Green, Kentucky), 15 May 1981, p. 13-A.</ref>  At the 1982 SEC championships, he again set the 110-meter high hurdles record, and won the Commissioner's Trophy for the highest overall score.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l9ZXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7AUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4635,116662&dq=willie-gault+georgia&hl=en Vols Win SEC Track Title]", ''Ocala Star-Banner'', May 16, 1982, p. 2C.</ref>  He won the 60-yard hurdles event at the 1983 [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] indoor championships with a time of 7.05.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wjkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2213,5798593&dq=willie-gault+georgia&hl=en SEC Indoor Results]", ''The Tuscaloosa News'', February 28, 1983, p. 11.</ref>  At the 1983 [[NCAA Men's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships]], Gault won the [[NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships – Men's 60 meter hurdles|60-yard high hurdles]] and the [[NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships – Men's 60 meter dash|60-yard dash]] with times of 6.98 and 6.18, respectively.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OYxaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4922,4563442&dq=willie-gault+ncaa+hurdles&hl=en Gault Achieves Rare Twin Sprint Triumph]", ''The Courier'' (Prescott, Arizona), March 13, 1983, p. 4B.</ref>  At the 1983 [[NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA outdoor championships]], Gault placed third behind [[Roger Kingdom]] and Reggie Towns in the [[110 meter high hurdles|110-meter high hurdles]].<ref>Bob Smizik, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZsgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gGEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7132,3752148&dq=willie-gault+georgia&hl=en NCAA Champ Kingdom Comes Up to a Big Decision]", ''The Pittsburgh Press'', June 6, 1983, p. C-5.</ref>

Gault was part of a world record-setting [[4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 meter relay]] team (1. Emmit King, 2. Willie Gault, 3. Calvin Smith, 4. Carl Lewis) at the 1983 World Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/results/iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics/1983/1st-iaaf-world-championships-in-athletics-3/men/4x100-metres-relay/final|title=IAAF: 4x100 Metres Relay Result - 1st IAAF World Championships in Athletics - iaaf.org|website=iaaf.org}}</ref> He also competed in the [[110 meter hurdles]] and attended the [[Liberty Bell Classic]], where he won a bronze medal in the 100 meter race).  He made the 1988 Winter Olympics [[Bobsleigh|bobsledding]] team as an alternate. His official personal bests are 13.26 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles and 10.10 seconds in the [[100 meters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.all-athletics.com/node/84988|title=Profile of Willie GAULT - All-Athletics.com|website=www.all-athletics.com|access-date=September 16, 2013|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234140/http://www.all-athletics.com/node/84988|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Personal bests====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
!Time (seconds)
!Venue
!Date
|-
|[[100 meters]]
|10.10{{athAbbr|A}}
|Provo, Utah
|June 5, 1982
|-
|[[200 meters]]
|20.68
|Tempe, Arizona
|March 20, 1982
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
!Time (seconds)
!Venue
!Date
|-
|[[50 metres hurdles]]
|6.56
|Los Angeles, California
|February 15, 1992
|-
|[[55 metres hurdles]]
|6.96
|Dallas, Texas
|February 5, 1983
|-
|[[60 metres hurdles]]
|7.67
|Louisville, Kentucky
|January 29, 1981
|-
|[[110 metres hurdles]]
|13.26
|Indianapolis, Indiana
|July 25, 1982
|}

==Professional football career==
Gault was selected by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the first round (18th overall pick) in the [[1983 NFL draft]], and had an immediate impact during his rookie season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1983 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1983/draft.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He caught four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' loss to [[New Orleans Saints|New Orleans]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints – September 18th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309180nor.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> five passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' loss to [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Baltimore Colts – September 25th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198309250clt.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> and four passes for 129 yards and an 87-yard touchdown in the Bears' loss to [[Green Bay Packers|Green Bay]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – December 4th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312040gnb.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Gault was the prototypical "speed merchant", meaning his greatest asset was his pure straight line swiftness.

During the Bears' dominant [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 season]], Gault caught 33 passes for a team-leading 704 yards<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault 1985 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00/gamelog/1985/ |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>  His best game of the season came in the Bears' 33–24 win over [[Minnesota Vikings|Minnesota]], when he caught six passes for 146 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – September 19th, 1985 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198509190min.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the Bears' 46–10 victory over [[New England Patriots|New England]] in [[Super Bowl XX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 1986 |title=Bears Trounce Patriots, 46–10, in Super Bowl |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-27-mn-540-story.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Gault had four receptions for a game-leading 129 yards, and four kickoff returns for 49 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XX – Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots – January 26th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601260chi.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> At the end of the 1985 regular season, Gault helped organize teammates to perform the "[[The Super Bowl Shuffle|Super Bowl Shuffle]]", a rap song and music video that raised money for a local charity.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Rich |date=December 11, 1985 |title=Surviving The Shuffle |url=http://www.si.com/longform/2015/1985/super-bowl-shuffle/index.html |access-date=March 13, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref>  He sang one verse in the song.<ref name="newman" />

By the 1986 season, friction had developed between Gault and Bears quarterback [[Jim McMahon]].  In his autobiography published that year, McMahon suggested that Gault was undependable, and only put forth his best effort if the game was on national television.<ref name="newman" />  Gault stated in an interview with ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' that he wasn't sure why McMahon seemed hesitant to throw it to him more often (the ''Sports Illustrated'' article's author, Bruce Newman, suggested that Gault didn't get as many throws because he was frequently double-teamed).<ref name="newman" />  In spite of this squabble, Gault finished the 1986 season with 42 catches for 818 yards, including 7 catches for 174 yards against [[Cincinnati Bengals|Cincinnati]], and four catches for 116 yards against [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals – September 28th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198609280cin.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – November 9th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198611090tam.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault 1986 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00/gamelog/1986/ |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the 1988 season, Gault was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=LaMarre |first=Tom |date=July 18, 2022 |title=Raiders Went Deep With Branch, Gault |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/the-black-hole-plus/cliff-branch-willie-gault-oakland-los-angeles-las-vegas-raiders |access-date=March 14, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref> He caught four passes for 102 yards in the Raiders' loss to Cincinnati on October 2, 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Raiders - October 2nd, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810020rai.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>  He caught four passes for 131 yards and a touchdown in the 1989 season opener against [[San Diego Chargers|San Diego]], and had 147 yards on just two catches in the Raiders' win over Cincinnati on November 5, 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Raiders - September 10th, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198909100rai.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Raiders - November 5th, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198911050rai.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>  He caught four passes for 103 yards to help the Raiders defeat his former team on September 30, 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Raiders - September 30th, 1990 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199009300rai.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the 1991 season, he had 20 receptions for 346 yards and four touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault 1991 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00/gamelog/1991/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the 1992 season, he had 27 receptions for 508 yards and five touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault 1992 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00/gamelog/1992/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Raiders did not re-sign Gault following the 1993 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lonnie |date=July 15, 1994 |title=PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Rathman Set to Sign for Two Years |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-15-sp-16000-story.html |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In spite of his speed, Gault never won the NFL's "Fastest Man" competition over 60 yards (outdoors).  He placed second behind frequent winner [[Darrell Green]] in 1986, having defeated fellow Olympic sprinter [[Ron Brown (wide receiver)|Ron Brown]] in the semifinals.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yeIhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9mIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7060,6872832&dq=willie-gault+fastest-man+green&hl=en Green's the Fastest]", ''The Pittsburgh Press'', April 27, 1986, p. D2.</ref>  In the 1990 competition, Gault again placed second, losing to Brown in the finals (Green was recovering from an injury and didn't compete).<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MTEcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uVkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7249,3962837&dq=willie-gault+raiders&hl=en Brown Outraces Gault in Fastest Man Event]", ''Victoria Advocate'' (Victoria, Texas), p. 2B.</ref> Green (a [[cornerback]]) would frequently cover Gault when their respective teams played. In the Bears' 23–19 win over [[Washington Redskins|Washington]] in the 1984 playoffs, Gault beat Green for a 75-yard touchdown reception after getting held without a catch in the first half.<ref>George Vecsey, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NpcsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L_wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2103,6871873&dq=willie-gault+darrell-green&hl=en Bears' Speedy Gault Turns on the Juice for the Fans]", ''Lakeland Ledger'', December 31, 1984, p. 6D.</ref> In the Bears' loss to the Redskins in the 1986 playoffs, Gault had five catches for 82 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown, while going head to head with Green.<ref>Dave van Dyck, "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36D4793D97431&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Gault Off and Running vs. Redskins' Green]", ''Chicago Sun-Times'', January 4, 1987, p. 102.</ref> In the Redskins' 21–17 win over the Bears in the 1987 playoffs, Green held Gault without a catch before leaving the game with an injury.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8lZKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DoYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4240,4410481&dq=willie-gault+darrell-green&hl=en Redskins' Darrell Green Could See Action Against Minnesota]", ''The Vindicator'' (Youngstown, Ohio), Associated Press, January 12, 1988, p. 13.</ref> In the Raiders' 21–20 win over the Redskins in 1992, Gault went without a reception for most of the game before beating Green for a 50-yard catch that set up the winning touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 26, 1992 |title=Raiders 21, Redskins 20 |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/12/26/Raiders-21-Redskins-20/4724725346000/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

Gault finished his 11 NFL seasons with 333 receptions for 6,635 yards. He also returned 9 punts for 60 yards, rushed for 154 yards, returned 45 kickoffs for 1,088 yards, and scored 45 touchdowns (44 receiving and 1 kickoff return).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Gault Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00.htm |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="6"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Kickoff returns
|-
! Rec !! Yds !! Y/G !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! KR !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''16''' || 40 || 836 || 52.2 || 20.9 || '''87''' || '''8''' || 13 || 276 || 21.2 || 38 || 0
|-
! [[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''16''' || 34 || 587 || 36.7 || 17.3 || 61 || 6 || 1 || 12 || 12.0 || 12 || 0
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''16''' || 33 || 704 || 44.0 || 21.3 || 70 || 1 || '''22''' || '''577''' || 26.2 || '''99''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! [[1986 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''16''' || 42 || 818 || 51.1 || 19.5 || 53 || 5 || 1 || 20 || 20.0 || 20 || 0
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| 12 || 35 || 705 || 58.8 || 20.1 || 56 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 15 || 16 || 392 || 26.1 || 24.5 || 57 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| '''16''' || 28 || 690 || 43.1 || '''24.6''' || 84 || 4 || 1 || 16 || 16.0 || 16 || 0
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| '''16''' || '''50''' || '''985''' || '''61.6''' || 19.7 || 68 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| '''16''' || 20 || 346 || 21.6 || 17.3 || 59 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| '''16''' || 27 || 508 || 31.8 || 18.8 || 53 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 15 || 8 || 64 || 4.3 || 8.0 || 12 || 0 || 7 || 187 || '''26.7''' || 60 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GaulWi00.htm Career] !! 170 !! 333 !! 6,635 !! 39.0 !! 19.9 !! 87 !! 44 !! 45 !! 1,088 !! 24.2 !! 99 !! 1
|}

==After retiring as a player==

Gault retired in the early 1990s and is pursuing an acting career in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]]. He portrayed Willie the Sweeper in the NBC series [[The Pretender (TV series)|''The Pretender'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=David |date=July 2, 2007 |title=Willie Gault |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2007/07/02/willie-gault |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us}}</ref> Willie also had an appearance on the sitcom ''[[Still Standing (American TV series)|Still Standing]]'' playing himself as the father of Tina's friend. He had a few appearances on ''[[Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide]]'' playing himself alongside sportscaster [[Van Earl Wright]] and most recently was featured in the [[series finale]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dutch |first=Taylor |date=May 12, 2016 |title=Willie Gault Could Still Put NFLers to Shame in a Sprint |url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/5051315-willie-gault-could-still-put-nflers-to-shame-in-a-sprint |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=FloTrack |language=en}}</ref> He also was in an episode of MTV's ''[[Parental Control]]''. In Season 4 Episode 8 of ''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'', the Dillon Lions radio color-man is named Willie Gault as a tribute.

Gault joined other members of the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]] in resurrecting the [[Super Bowl Shuffle]] in a [[Boost Mobile]] commercial for [[Super Bowl XLIV]].<ref>{{cite web | first=Jon | last=Greenberg | url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/columns/story?columnist=greenberg_jon&id=4827883 | title=Shuffling down memory lane | work=ESPN.com | date=January 15, 2010 | access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>

Gault has been active at the highest levels of [[Masters athletics]].  On June 24, 2006, Gault set a [[Masters Athletics World Records|world record]] of 10.72 seconds in the master's 100 meters, in the division for athletes aged 45 to 49. On April 26, 2008, Gault (at age 47) set a new world record of 21.80 seconds in the M45-49 age-group for 200m.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world-masters-athletics.org/records/outdoor-men |title=Masters World Records |publisher=World-masters-athletics.org |date=June 10, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803090451/http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/records/outdoor-men |archive-date=August 3, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tommie "Tiny" Lister Classic |url=http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/results/2008track/08Lister-m.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527055449/http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/results/2008track/08Lister-m.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |access-date=May 27, 2012 |website=Flash Results}}</ref>  In May 2011, he set world records for the 50–54 age group in the 100-meter (10.88) and 200-meter (22.44) dashes.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usatf.org/News/Gault-named-Athlete-of-the-Week.aspx?feed=news | title=Gault named Athlete of the Week | date=May 22, 2011 | publisher=[[USA Track & Field]] | access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2016, Gault was ordered to pay $206,571 to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit regarding his actions in a scheme to inflate share prices of the medical device company Heart Tronics Inc, for which he had been co-CEO. Gault was cleared of the most serious fraud charges.<ref name="e145">{{cite web | title=Ex-NFL star, Heart Tronic exec Gault ordered to pay fine in SEC fraud case | website=MassDevice | date=2016-04-15 | url=https://www.massdevice.com/ex-nfl-star-heart-tronic-exec-gault-ordered-pay-fine-sec-fraud-case/ | access-date=2024-09-28}}</ref>

In November 2016, Gault was inducted into the 2017 class of the [[Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wjhl.com/2016/11/03/5-vols-named-to-tennessee-sports-hall-of-fame-2017-induction-class/ | title=5 Vols Named To Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2017 Induction Class | publisher=[[WJHL-TV]] | date=November 3, 2016 | access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>

Gault was inducted into the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]], in Macon, Georgia, as a member of the 2017 class.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLASS OF 2017 |url=https://www.georgiasportshalloffame.com/class-of-2017 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=GSHF |language=en}}</ref>

Gault was inducted into the [[USATF Masters Hall of Fame]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2021 |title=USATF announces 2021 Hall of Fame class |url=https://usatf.org/news/2021/usatf-announces-2021-hall-of-fame-class |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=USA Track & Field}}</ref>

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Other notes
|-
|1988
|''Sporting Chance''
|Football Player
|TV movie
|-
|1990s
|''Tales from the crypt'' (TV series)
|Police Officer
|Episode:"Two for the show"
|-
|1992
|''Bodies of Evidence'' (TV series)
|Melissa Thompson
|Episode:"Nearest and Dearest "
|-
|1993
|''[[In the Heat of the Night (TV series)|In the Heat of the Night]]'' (TV series)
|Troy Davis
|Episode:"Singin' the Blues"
|-
|1996
|''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'' (TV series)
|Clifford
|Episode:"True Confessions"
|-
|1996
|''[[Baywatch]]'' (TV series)
|
| Season 7 Episode 5
|-
|1997–2000
|''[[The Pretender (TV series)|The Pretender]]'' (TV series)
|Willie the Sweeper
|Recurring; 19 Episodes
|-
|1997
|''[[Grounded for Life]]'' (TV series)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lay |first=Ken |date=March 28, 2020 |title=Tennessee football: Players who wore No. 26 |url=https://volswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/28/tennessee-football-players-who-wore-no-26/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Vols Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
|Hugh
|Episode:"Don't Fear the Reefer"
|-
|2004
|''[[Still Standing (American TV series)|Still Standing]]'' (TV series)<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Today on TV |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/5/17/19829089/today-on-tv/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>
|Himself
|Episode:"Still Champions"
|-
|2021
|''[[Family Reunion (TV series)|Family Reunion]]'' (TV series)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mauch |first=Ally |date=March 8, 2021 |title=Family Reunion Will Feature 3 Real Housewives Guest Stars in the New Season — Watch the Trailer! |url=https://people.com/tv/family-reunion-will-feature-3-real-housewives-guest-stars-trailer-exclusive/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref>
|Himself
|Episode: ''Remember Mazzi's First Love?''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{World Athletics||name=Willie Gault}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0310112}}
*[http://tshf.net/halloffame/willie-gault/ Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame bio]
*[https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/willie-gault/12228 Tennessee Volunteers bio]

{{BearsFirstPick}}
{{Bears1983DraftPicks}}
{{1983 NFL Draft}}
{{Super Bowl XX}}
{{Footer World Champions 4 x 100 m Men|1983}}
{{Footer US NC 110m Hurdles Men}}
{{Superstars}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions 4x100 m Men}}
{{Authority control}}

Additional References:  
[[USATF Masters Hall of Fame]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gault, Willie}}
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