On Saturday, the Chicago Bears announced their former quarterback Bob Avellini passed away at the age of 70, who had spent his entire Bears career with Hall of Fame RB Walter Payton.
Avellini, a former sixth-round pick in 1975 spent 10 years in Chicago while Payton was Chicago’s first-round pick that year, and started four games during his rookie season.
Former Bears quarterback Bob Avellini dies at 70. https://t.co/Bp0E4DrtxE
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 5, 2024
Bob Avellini’s Cause of Death
Per the news, the Bears shared that Avellini died after a battle with cancer, they said in a statement,
“Bob was one-of-a-kind; a fierce and tough competitor. He’s perhaps best remembered for leading the Bears on an improbable run in 1977 to our first postseason appearance in 14 years. He will be missed.”
During his career with the Bears, he appeared in 73 games, including 50 starts, where he passed for 7,111 yards with 33 touchdowns and 69 interceptions.
He appeared in 40 more regular season games from 1975 and the next three seasons, while making his only playoff appearance in a loss to the Cowboys after the 1977 season.
His best season was in 1977, as he and Payton led Chicago to the playoffs, they went 9-5 in the NFC North, while Minnesota won the division Chicago earned a wild-card playoff berth.
The Bears were beaten by Dallas 37-7 in the playoffs that season where Avellini threw 11 touchdown passes and had a career-high 2,004 yards with 18 interceptions.
He remained with the Bears until he was released during the 1984 season. He finished out the year with the Jets and spent time with the Cowboys in the 1986 preseason before retiring.
