Gage was selected in the first round with the sixth overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the
1949 NFL draft. He played two seasons for the Steelers at
tailback,
quarterback and
defensive back. In the penultimate game of the
1949 season, Gage set a franchise record which still stands with a 97-yard run on a fake punt. This run also tied the
league record at the time which was held by the
Green Bay Packers'
Andy Uram. The record stood until , when
Tony Dorsett scored from 99 yards out. Gage retired from football after two seasons to devote more time to his family and his off-season job as an executive at a South Carolina textile firm. ==Personal life==