Professional Career
Wade's postseason performances caught the attention of the NFL scouts. It has been widely acclaimed and published that Wade was the first round pick of the Los Angeles Rams, but that is not correct according to Wade.
"In 1952, I was the Rams 'bonus draft choice,'" Wade explained. "There is no such thing as a bonus draft choice any more, but at the time the professional football teams would put their names in a hat, and they would draw for a bonus draft pick for each team before the actual draft. There is no bonus draft pick today."
After the 1960 season, Bears defensive assistant George Allen realized that to compete with Vince Lombardi's Packers required more offense. He had spent one season on the Rams' staff and was impressed with Wade. He talked Coach Halas into trading Zeke Bratkowski to the Rams for Wade for the 1961 season. Wade quarterbacked the 1963 Bears World Championship team.
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