Bob Avellini
No. 7 | |||||||
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Position: | Quarterback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. | August 28, 1953||||||
Died: | May 4, 2024 | (aged 70)||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | New Hyde Park Memorial (North New Hyde Park, New York) | ||||||
College: | Maryland | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1975 / Round: 6 / Pick: 135 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Robert Hayden Avellini (August 28, 1953 - May 4, 2024), was an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL draft. He finished his career with the New York Jets, for whom he did not appear in a game.
Professional career
Avellini played
He played for the Bears from 1975 to 1984, primarily serving as a backup quarterback during his NFL career. Fully established as the Bears starter in
In 1978, the Bears struggled. They started 4–8 with Avellini under center, as he threw for 16 interceptions, while tossing only 5 touchdown passes. This caused coach Neill Armstrong to make a switch at quarterback, inserting veteran Mike Phipps into the starting role.[1] Phipps, for whom Bears had traded their first-round pick in the 1978 draft to acquire from the Cleveland Browns, won 3 out of the final 4 games, to establish himself as the starter for the next season. The Bears surprisingly rolled to a 10–6 record in 1979, tying the record of the division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Avellini was now the backup. He continued in this capacity, playing behind Phipps, Vince Evans, and Jim McMahon until the 1984 season, seeing little action on the field.
In 1984, with the Bears starting 2–0, Jim McMahon was injured and Mike Ditka inserted Avellini as the starter for a road game against the Green Bay Packers.[2] Avellini had started only five games since the end of the 1978 season. The Bears mustered little offense with Avellini at the controls, but still managed to edge the Packers 9–7. Chicago struggled the next week as they were soundly beaten by the Seattle Seahawks 38–9. This resulted in Avellini being cut from the Bears’ roster by Ditka, ending his decade-long tenure with Chicago. Avellini signed with the New York Jets in mid-November, where he ended his playing career after the 1984 season. The Jets released him before the 1985 season.[3] The Bears, meanwhile, went to the NFC Championship game in 1984 and won Super Bowl XX in 1985. Avellini made a brief comeback in 1986 with the Dallas Cowboys, starting three preseason games, but was released at the final cut deadline.
Legal troubles
In May 2009, Avellini was arrested for driving under the influence and acquitted for the third time. He had been convicted of the offense in 2002. In October 2013, a DuPage County grand jury indicted Avellini on felony drunken driving charges a week after his sixth DUI-related arrest since 2002. On November 19, 2014, Avellini was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his 3rd DUI.[4] Avellini declared bankruptcy on February 27, 2012 listing debts of more than $2.2 million and assets of $1.3 million.
On November 20, 2014, Avellini was sentenced to 18 months in prison for aggravated DUI.[5]
Personal life
Avellini is actively involved in a number of Chicago area charitable organizations and despite his professional real estate career has been on the air at several Chicago radio and television sports shows.[citation needed]
References
- ^ 1979 Chicago Bears
- ^ 1984 Chicago Bears
- ^ "The New York Jets waived five players Monday, including veteran quarterback Bob Avellini, to reach the mandatory NFL regular-season limit of 45". Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- ^ Avellini acquitted of DUI again, ESPN, May 6, 2009.
- ^ Ward, Clifford (November 20, 2014). "Former Bears QB Avellini gets 18 months in prison for aggravated DUI: prosecutors". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference