Chris Gilbert obit

Longhorn Legend Chris Gilbert passes away

 

He was not on the list.

A College Football Hall of Famer, Gilbert was a consensus All-American in 1968 and the first player in college football history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

A College Football Hall of Famer who was a central figure in the creation of Darrell Royal's famed Texas wishbone offense, Chris Gilbert passed away Monday in Houston at the age of 79.

Gilbert, who lettered at Texas from 1966-68, cemented himself in college football history by becoming the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. In his college career, Gilbert received All-Southwest Conference honors three times and was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1968. That year, he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and was a co-captain of that year's Southwest Conference co-championship team that finished 9-1-1 and ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press and No. 5 by UPI. As the wishbone hit its stride, that team ended the season with nine-straight wins, capped by a 36-13 victory over No. 8/7 Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl.

One of only two Longhorns to earn team MVP honors for three consecutive years (Colt McCoy, 2007-09), Gilbert became the first Longhorn to rush for 2,000 yards and then 3,000 yards in a career. In all, he totaled 3,231 rushing yards (still ranks sixth on the UT all-time list) and 28 touchdowns in his career. With a 107.7 rushing yards per game average, Gilbert is in an illustrious group of five Longhorn greats that averaged better than 100 yards rushing per game for their careers. That group is led by Ricky Williams (136.5 ypg) and includes Cedric Benson (113.1 ypg), Earl Campbell (111.1 ypg), and Bijan Robinson (110.0 ypg).

After college, Gilbert would go on to be drafted in the fifth round of the NFL/AFL Draft by the New York Jets. He would later be inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 1978, the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

After graduating, Gilbert, along with his former Texas Longhorns teammate Corby Robertson, co-founded Camp Olympia in 1968, which has since become one of the most successful summer camps in Texas. The camp has provided generations of children with a positive and enriching experience, playing a significant role in the local community. Camp Olympia, a key part of his post-football legacy, remains a testament to his commitment to youth development and the Texas community.

Following his time in football, Gilbert transitioned into a successful career as an investor and business executive in Houston. His business ventures flourished, demonstrating his strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Recently, Gilbert was the recipient of the 2024 PwC Doak Walker Legends Award. The award was created in 1998 to honor former running backs that excelled at the collegiate level and went on to distinguish themselves as leaders in their communities.