Cookie Gilchrist Selected to Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame

August 30, 2017 · No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced that Carlton “Cookie” Gilchrist has been selected to the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame.

Gilchrist becomes the 31^st member to be named to the Bills organization’s highest honor. He will be inducted posthumously in a special halftime ceremony during the October 29^th home game against the Oakland Raiders.

The 6-3, 251 pound running back, who played three seasons for the Bills (1962-64), was one of the most powerful and dominating runners in the early days of the American Football League. He finished his Bills career with 3,056 yards rushing and 31 rushing touchdowns in 42 games. He also caught 78 passes for 875 yards and four touchdowns.

Gilchrist established eight AFL and team records in his first year (1962) with the Bills. He was the first AFL player to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark (1,096) when he did so during the 1962 season on his way to becoming the league’s Most Valuable Player. He also established a single-game professional football record by rushing for 243 yards against New York in 1963 and rushed for 122 yards in the Bills victory over San Diego in the 1964 AFL Championship game.

Additionally, he was an AFL All-Star in each of the four seasons from 1962-65 and led the league in scoring in each of his three seasons with the Bills.

Following his three years in Buffalo, Gilchrist played for Denver in 1965 and Miami in 1966 before returning to Denver where he played in one game in 1967. Prior to joining the Bills in 1962, he played in the Canadian Football League from 1956-61 and was selected as a CFL All-Star each year from 1956-60.

The Wall of Fame was created in 1980 to honor former players, coaches and administrators who have played significant roles in the team’s history.

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