Gary Fencik
John Gary Fencik (born June 11, 1954) is a former professional American-football free safety and an executive with Adams Street Partners.[1] Fencik played 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears and is their all-time leader in interceptions[2] and total tackles.
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | June 11, 1954 Chicago, Illinois | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 194 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Barrington (IL) | ||||||||||
| College: | Yale | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1976 / Round: 10 / Pick: 281 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Playing career
He played college football at Yale University, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1976. In 1985, he received an MBA from Northwestern University. John Madden once said in a broadcast that "Gary Fencik played football at Yale; that is like saying clean dirt".
Fencik was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the tenth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, with the 281st overall selection. After rupturing his left lung in a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, he was released in September and picked up by the Bears.[3]
In Chicago, he was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s including the 1985 Super Bowl championship season. He made two Pro Bowl appearances (1980, 1981). He was also awarded a gold record and a platinum video award for the 1985 Super Bowl Shuffle. Fencik and Doug Plank were dubbed "The Hit Men", a fact referenced by Fencik in The Super Bowl Shuffle.[4]
In September 1986 he was featured on the cover of GQ magazine. His picture also appeared on the reverse side of a Playboy centerfold, showing him and the December 1982 Playmate Charlotte Kemp, shopping at the Old Town Art Fair.[5]
Fencik finished his career with 38 interceptions, which he returned for 488 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded 2 sacks and recovered 14 fumbles, returning them for 65 yards.
Retirement
Following his football career, Fencik has worked in the finance industry. Before joining Adams Street Partners in 1995, Fencik worked with Wells Fargo and UBS. He has also worked as a sports commentator, mainly on WGN radio where he was a color commentator on Bears radio broadcasts from 1990–1993. During the 1988 NFL season he paired with James Brown as an NFL television commentator on CBS.
He has two children, Garrison and Evan.
References
- "Executive Committee". ADAMS STREET PARTNERS. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- Mayer, Larry. "Tillman repeats stellar performance". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- Rosaforte, Tim (December 2, 1985). "Once a Dolphin, Fencik succeeds as Bears safety". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Stiernberg, Bonnie; Ryan, Shane (January 30, 2015). "The Super Bowl Shuffle: A GIF-Heavy Ranking of Every Verse". Paste. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Telander, Rick (September 30, 1985). "Pride of the Yuppies". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 7, 2019.