Bob Avellini, a former Bears quarterback, has passed……

Bob Avellini, a former Bears quarterback, has passed away.

Avellini had 73 appearances in Bears contests.

The former Chicago Bears quarterback Bob Avellini, who contributed to the team’s 1977 postseason run, has passed away. He was seventy years old.

Avellini was selected in the same draft class as Walter Payton, in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL Draft. After starting a few games towards the conclusion of his rookie season, the Queens, New York native, who played collegiate ball at Maryland, established himself as the team’s regular starter at the beginning of the 1976 campaign.

But 1977 turned out to be the most remarkable year for Avellini. Leading the Bears to the postseason, Walter Payton was named MVP that season while quarterbacking the squad. That season, he finished with 2,004 passing yards—the most he had ever thrown for in a single year. Sadly, the Bears’ playoff game that year ended in catastrophe as they were defeated 37–7 by the Dallas Cowboys.

Avellini would wind up starting again in 1978, but Mike Phipps took him at center after the club had a dismal start (4-8 record). Avellini would remain a member of the club for a number of further seasons, starting three more games for the group between 1978 and 1984.

Avellini was back in the starting lineup for some significant playing time in 1984 following Jim McMahon’s early season injury. After McMahon left the Lambeau Field game against the Green Bay Packers in week three, Avellini took over and played the majority of the game. It was a horrible offensive performance. Avellini finished with 133 yards passing, 1 interception, and no touchdowns. Nevertheless, Payton was able to go over 100 yards (because, well, that’s what Payton did). Although the Bears managed to win 9–7, that kind of point total would not be sufficient going forward.

The following week (September 23, 1984), the team lost 38-9 to the Seattle Seahawks, marking Avellini’s last start for the franchise. The well-known animosity between the quarterback and Bears coach Mike Ditka reached a breaking point during this game. Avellini apparently changed a play call before throwing a pick six.

In the fourth quarter, Ditka substituted Rusty Lisch for Avellini at quarterback. Avellini finished the game with 119 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns. Later, Ditka stated that if McMahon was still out, he would prefer play Lisch or backup quarterback Steve Fuller than bring Avellini back into the game. Then, Avellini was removed from the squad.

After leaving the Bears, Avellini was picked up by the New York Jets, however he never saw the field in New York. The Jets cut him before the 1985 campaign began. In 1986, he made a brief attempt at a career comeback with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in three preseason games before being released just before the start of the regular season.

Avellini’s career stats with the Chicago Bears include: 33 touchdown passes, 69 interceptions (the fifth most in franchise history), and 7,111 throwing yards (the ninth most in team history).

The Chicago Tribune reported that Avellini had recently been battling cancer.