Death and Legacy
In 1969, the Bears were in the midst of a 1-13 season, the worst record in their history. Piccolo had finally earned a place in the starting lineup as an undersized fullback. During the ninth game in Atlanta on November 16, he voluntarily removed himself from the game, something he had never done, raising great concern among his teammates and coaches. Breathing on the field had become extremely difficult for him, so when the team returned to Chicago he was promptly sent for a medical examination and diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma.
Soon after initial surgery at Sloan-Kettering in New York City to remove the tumor, Brian underwent a second procedure in April 1970 to remove his left lung and pectoral muscle. Bothered by chest pain afterward, he was re-admitted to the hospital in early June and doctors determined the cancer had spread to other organs, most notably his liver. He died on June 16, 1970, at the age of 26. The month before his death Sayers had said, "I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him. When you hit your knees to pray tonight; please ask God to love him too." That earned him the NFL's Most Courageous Player award, but Sayers told the crowd they had selected the wrong person for the honor and would accept it only on Piccolo's behalf.
Read more about this topic: Brian Piccolo
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