The Chicago Bears lost a key player in their history with the death of former quarterback Bob Avellini Saturday. Avellini was the team’s starting quarterback from 1975 through 1978, and he played nine years with the team before the end of his career after the 1984 season. He was 70 years old.

Avellini was known for being the team’s signal caller during the 1977 season. The Bears made the playoffs that year for the first time since winning the NFL championship in 1963.

Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton was in the prime of his career while Avellini was under center for the Bears. Both players were at their best during the ’77 season.

The Bears had a 9-5 record that season and Avellini completed 154 of 293 passes for 2,0004 yards with 11 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. While that touchdown to interception ratio was troubling, Avellini led four game-winning drives during that season.

Payton was clearly an exemplary backfield mate for Avellini. He was the dominant offensive player for the surprising Bears that season and perhaps the best in the NFL.

Payton won the MVP award that season as well as Offensive Player of the Year honors. He carried the ball 339 times for 1,852 yards, and he also had 27 receptions for 269 yards with 2 receiving touchdowns.

The Bears appearance in the postseason ended quickly as they were overpowered 37-7 by the Dallas Cowboys.

Throughout his career, Avellini had a 23-27-0 record with the Bears, completing 560 of 1,110 passes for 7,111 yards with 33 TDs and 69 interceptions. He also rushed for 225 yards and 5 touchdowns during his 9-year run with Chicago.

Avellini came to the Bears in the same draft class as Payton

In addition to their success during the ’77 playoff season, Avellini came to the Bears during the same ’75 NFL Draft. Payton was drafted with the fourth pick of the first round out of Jackson State, while Avellini was selected in the sixth round out of Maryland.

The Bears offered a strong memory of Avellini in their acknowledgement of his death. “Bob was one-of-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 fourteen years. He will be missed.”

The Bears were a 7-7 team during the 1976 season and they had won 3 of their last 5 games to show that there was some improvement going on. The ’77 start was a struggle for head coach Jack Pardee’s team. The Bears were 3-5 and in danger of falling to 3-6 as they trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 27-21 late in the fourth quarter.

However, Avellini helped rescue the season as he threw a game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Latta to secure a 28-27 victory.

The Bears went on to win their next 5 games as they closed the regular season with a 6-game winning streak. The last victory was a 12-9 overtime triumph over the New York Giants that clinched their playoff appearance.