Editing Gary Fencik (section)

==Playing career==
He played [[college football]] at [[Yale University]], where he received his [[bachelor's degree]] in 1976. In 1986, 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".  At Yale, Fencik played [[wide receiver]], catching 86 passes for 1,435 yards and 7 touchdowns from 1973 to 1975.  In his senior season, Fencik caught 42 passes and led the [[Ivy League]] with 729 receiving yards.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/gary-fencik-1.html | title=Gary Fencik College Stats }}</ref>

Considered too slow to be an NFL receiver, the [[Miami Dolphins]] drafted Fencik in the tenth round of the [[1976 NFL draft]] with the 281st overall selection, intending to convert him to defensive back. After rupturing his left lung in a preseason game against the [[New Orleans Saints]], he was released in September and headed home to Chicago, planning to start a banking career until he received a job offer from the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rosaforte|first=Tim|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1985-12-02-8502240279-story.html|title=Once a Dolphin, Fencik succeeds as Bears safety|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=December 2, 1985|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>

In Chicago, he was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s including the [[1985 NFL season|1985]] [[Super Bowl XX|Super Bowl]] championship season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-01-27 |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=2023-10-31 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He made two [[Pro Bowl]] appearances ([[1980 NFL season|1980]], [[1981 NFL season|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''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stiernberg|first1=Bonnie|last2=Ryan|first2=Shane|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/01/the-giftastic-super-bowl-shuffle-appreciation-post.html|title=The Super Bowl Shuffle: A GIF-Heavy Ranking of Every Verse|publisher=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref>

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 [[Playboy Playmate|Playmate]] Charlotte Kemp, shopping at the Old Town Art Fair.<ref>{{cite web|last=Telander|first=Rick|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1985/09/30/627720/pride-of-the-yuppies|title=Pride of the Yuppies|publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=September 30, 1985|access-date=May 7, 2019}}</ref> The story promoted Fencik as "the NFL's smartest player."<ref name="GOPLeadersWant"/>

Fencik finished his career with 38 interceptions, which he returned for 488 yards and a touchdown.  He also recorded 4 sacks and recovered 13 fumbles, returning them for 65 yards.

During his playing career, he became the part-owner of the Hunt Club, a popular [[Bar (establishment)|bar]] on Chicago's North Side.<ref name="GOPLeadersWant">{{cite web |title=GOP Leaders Want Fencik for Mayor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/306056640 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Quad-City Times |agency= Associated Press |access-date=25 November 2024 |language=en |date=September 17, 1986}}</ref>