May 5th 2024.
Sad news has struck the sports world as Bob Avellini, former quarterback for the Chicago Bears, has passed away at the age of 70. A team official confirmed that Avellini had been battling cancer. Avellini was a crucial part of the Bears' success in the 1970s and helped lead the team to the playoffs in 1977.
Originally from Queens in New York City, Avellini was selected by the Bears in the 1975 NFL draft, the same year that brought legendary player Walter Payton to the team. Avellini's rookie season saw him starting the final four games, where he impressed with 268 passing yards and three touchdowns in a big win over the New Orleans Saints.
His performance at the end of the season earned him the starting job in 1976, where he led the team to a 7-7 record with 1,580 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. However, it was in 1977 where Avellini truly shined, throwing for a career-high 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Payton also had his best season with 1,852 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Despite their success, the Bears were unfortunately eliminated from the playoffs with a devastating 37-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The following season, after a rough 4-8 start, Avellini was replaced by Mike Phipps, whom the Bears had traded a first-round pick for.
Avellini remained with the Bears until the 1984 season, where he appeared in 24 more games but only made three more starts. In one memorable game, he came in as a substitute for an injured Jim McMahon and helped the team secure a victory over the Green Bay Packers. However, the following week, the team released Avellini.
It's no secret that there were some tensions between Avellini and coach Mike Ditka. Avellini expressed his frustration with the coach's behavior, saying, "It gets a little tiring hearing that he's such a great competitor. Tom Landry is a great competitor, Joe Gibbs is a great competitor, but you don't see any of them acting like Ditka does."
Ditka responded by stating that the Bears had better quarterbacks on the team than Avellini and that he often tried to do too much on the field. Despite the coach's support for Avellini, the fans were not as forgiving, and the quarterback often faced harsh criticism and blame for the team's losses.
After his time with the Bears, Avellini had a brief stint with the New York Jets before retiring. Unfortunately, in 2014, he faced legal troubles and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for aggravated drunken driving, his sixth DUI arrest since 2002.
Even after his playing days were over, the debate over Avellini's skills and impact on the Bears continued. However, one thing was for sure, he was a talented quarterback who played a crucial role in the team's success and will always be remembered as a part of Bears' history. Rest in peace, Bob Avellini.
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