Bob Avellini was a quarterback for the Chicago Bears in the 1970s and early ‘80s who threw a famous pass that helped the team to the playoffs in 1977.
- Died: May 4, 2024 (Who else died on May 4?)
- Details of death: Died in Chicago of cancer at the age of 70.
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Bob Avellini’s legacy
Avellini played college football at the University of Maryland before being selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL draft. His most notable seasons with the team came in 1976 and 1977. In 1976, he was the Bears’ starting quarterback, helping the struggling team improve their dismal performance of the early ‘70s to go 7-7.
In 1977, the Bears had a memorable year with Avellini in the starting position again. Continuing to rally from their slump earlier in the decade, they were 9-5 and earned a wild card spot in the NFL playoffs. One of the notable wins that got them there was a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in November. With three seconds to go and the Chiefs leading 27-21, Avellini threw a 37-yard pass to tight end Greg Latta for a touchdown. The Bears’ victory was the beginning of a six-game winning streak that drove them to the playoffs, their first appearance there since 1963.
The Bears would go all the way to Super Bowl victory in 1985, but Avellini wasn’t there to be a part of it. Having played in only a handful of games in the ‘80s, he was cut from the team early in the 1984 season. He later signed with the New York Jets, completing the season with them before being released in ’85. He attempted a comeback with the Dallas Cowboys in 1986, but he was cut from the team during the preseason and retired from football.
Tributes to Bob Avellini
Full obituary: Chicago Tribune
