Bob Avellini, the former Chicago quarterback who joined Hall of Famer Walter Payton in leading the Bears to the 1977 playoffs, died Saturday. He was 70.
The Bears said Avellini died after a battle with cancer.
Avellini and Payton had career-best seasons in 1977, when Chicago and the Minnesota Vikings each went 9-5 in the NFC North. Minnesota won the division, while Chicago earned its way into the playoffs.
The Bears lost to Dallas, 37-7, in the playoffs that season. Avellini threw 11 touchdown passes and had a career-high 2,004 yards with 18 interceptions. Payton, meanwhile, rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 14 TDs.
Avellini threw for 7,111 yards with 33 touchdowns and 69 interceptions in 73 games over nine seasons, from 1975 to 1984.
Avellini, from New York, was part of the same draft class as Payton, drafted by Chicago in the sixth round out of Maryland in 1975. Payton was the fourth overall pick.