Former Bears Quarterback Bob Avellini Has Passed Away

Avellini appeared in 73 games for the Bears.

Bob Avellini, the former Chicago Bears quarterback who helped lead the team to the playoffs in 1977, has passed away. He was 70 years old.

Avellini was taken in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL Draft, the same draft class that included Walter Payton. The Queens, NY native who played college ball at Maryland became the permanent starter of the team at the start of the 1976 season after starting a handful of games at the end of his rookie year.

However, 1977 ended up being Avellini’s most memorable year. Quarterbacking the Bears as Walter Payton won MVP honors that year, the team made a trip to the postseason. His 2,004 passing yards that season would end up being the most he ever threw for in a single year. Unfortunately, that year’s playoff game ended in disaster — the Bears lost to the Dallas Cowboys 37-7.

Avellini would end up starting once again in 1978, but after the team started off slow (a 4-8 record), he was replaced by Mike Phipps under center. Avellini would stick with the team for several more years, making three more starts for the team between 1978 and 1984.

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After Jim McMahon was injured early in the 1984 season, Avellini was inserted into the starting lineup for some meaningful playing time once again. McMahon exited the week three game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, with Avellini then taking over for the majority of the game. The offensive showing was poor. Avellini threw for 133 yards, no touchdowns, and 1 interception. Payton still managed to surpass 100 yards (because, well, that’s what Payton did). The Bears were able to muster a 9-7 win, but that kind of point total wouldn’t cut it moving forward.

Avellini’s final start for the team was a 38-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks the following week (September 23, 1984). The quarterback and Bears coach, Mike Ditka, famously did not get along, and things came to a boiling point during this game. Avellini threw a pick six after reportedly changing a play call.

Ditka pulled Avellini in the fourth quarter, inserting Rusty Lisch at quarterback instead. Avellini’s stats on the game were 119 yards, no touchdowns, and the one interception. Ditka later said that he would favor starting Lisch or fourth string quarterback Steve Fuller rather than inserting Avellini back into the lineup if McMahon remained unavailable. Avellini was then cut form the team.

The New York Jets would pick up Avellini following his exit from the Bears, though he wouldn’t end up getting any playing time in New York. He was released by the Jets before the 1985 season. He briefly attempted a comeback with the Dallas Cowboys in 1986, playing in three preseason games that year, before being cut just prior to the regular season’s start.

Avellini’s career numbers with Chicago: 7,111 yards passing (ninth most in team history), 33 touchdown passes, and 69 interceptions (fifth most in team history).