CHICAGO -- Bob Avellini, the former Bears quarterback who teamed with Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton to lead the Bears to the 1977 playoffs, has died. He was 70.
The Bears said Saturday that Avellini died after a battle with cancer. The team did not say when he died.
Avellini and Payton had the finest seasons of their careers in 1977, when Chicago and the Minnesota Vikings each went 9-5 in the NFC North. Minnesota won the division, while Chicago earned a wild-card playoff berth.
The Bears were beaten by Dallas 37-7 in the playoffs that season.