The MESSY Drama Between Mike Ditka and Bob Avellini | 1984 Bears

During a 1984 NFL game between the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, Bears quarterback Bob Avellini decided to audible out of a run play intended for Walter Payton, and instead, called a passing play. When the pass got picked off, and the Bears lost the game, it led to a bitter, public feud between Avellini and head coach Mike Ditka, which resulted in every bridge on both sides being burned to the ground. This is the story behind the drama of the 1984 Chicago Bears.
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Members of the 1984 Chicago Bears:
Steve Fuller
Bob Avellini
Jim McMahon
Greg Landry
Rusty Lisch
Dave Finzer
Bob Thomas
Kevin Potter
Leslie Frazier
Dave Duerson
Shaun Gayle
Jeff Fisher
Todd Bell
Matt Suhey
Mike Richardson
Dennis Gentry
Jack Cameron
Anthony Hutchison
Calvin Thomas
Walter Payton
Terry Schmidt
Gary Fencik
Donald Jordan
Mike Singletary
Dan Rains
Brian Cabral
Otis Wilson
Wilber Marshall
Ron Rivera
Tom Andrews
Mark Bortz
Jay Hilgenberg
Rob Fada
Jim Osborne
Henry Waechter
Andy Frederick
Mike Hartenstine
Jimbo Covert
Stefan Humphries
Steve McMichael
Keith Van Horne
Kurt Becker
Jay Saldi
Willie Gault
Brian Baschnagel
Dennis McKinnon
Brad Anderson
Emery Moorehead
Pat Dunsmore
Mitch Krenk
Al Harris
Richard Dent
Tyrone Keys
Dan Hampton
Mike Ditka (head coach)
Buddy Ryan (defensive coordinator)

[@travismiller4320]

Even Jim McMahon said, “Chicago is where Quarterbacks go to die”

[@kibitznec700]

Lla dekcus laugi are uoy

[@DolFan316]

And he almost did die when Charles Martin body slammed him, pro wrestling style.

[@luisreyes1963]

Really? I thought it was Detroit. 🤬

[@82dorrin]

@@DolFan316 If Martin did that shit in today's NFL, he would never get on the field again.

[@logalogalog]

That and the Cleveland Browns.

[@effend446]

"As long as Walter Payton is around, we're not going to be a passing football team." - Jim McMahon

[@dangeiger9796]

He wasn’t wrong

[@jewsco]

Notice #34 giving his all and chasing down the interceptions? Good old sweetness

[@JAWrightonline]

Buddy Ryan, then the defensive coordinator, loved Walter Payton and considered him a member of the defense. "Whenever the quarterback threw an interception," Ryan said, "he was the one who usually made the tackle."

[@kennycarlson9654]

thats call 4.4 speed

[@84sp84]

I’d say Bobby Douglass was basically a mobile Bob Avellini. As was mentioned, the Bears just have a knack for selecting bad QBs.

[@chadwickwhite6107]

Jim McMahon and Kyle Orton were NOT BAD Quarterbacks. They are 2 of the BEST Quarterbacks to EVER play football.

[@23_CM]

@@chadwickwhite6107 Best??? Blasphemy! Craig Krenzel and Rex Grossman were both MILES clear of those 2!

[@misterresister8271]

They also acquired Mike Phipps in the late 70s, who proceeded to suck royally

[@misterresister8271]

@Ride sally Ride The Bears made the playoffs with bums like Avellini (1977) and Douglas (1979), which mostly just showed what Walter Payton in his absolute prime and a solid defense could do in the weak NFC Central

[@luisreyes1963]

Tell me about it. 😭

[@marcus813]

There's a reason why Ditka mostly went with his own guys. Avellini wasn't good enough to go outside the flow of the offensive scheme as he did. I don't blame the Bears for firing him.

[@jerryvan-hees7130]

Agreed. He's a trump loving sob bastard who was NOT responsible for the '85 bears. It was buddy Ryan. What did the bears do after Ryan left notta. But he was right for this move Avallini sucked.

[@Saltiren]

The offensive scheme failed him by giving him the ability to execute an audible but not having the trust in him to do it. If the coaching staff and player were on the same page and looking for the same things they would both understand the audible. The coaching staff left the player out to dry, he made a play because that's what players do and it turned out to be the wrong one and the coaching staff offered him no support and blamed him entirely. When it's a team sport snd everyone is on the same squad trying to win, throwing someone under the bus is terrible leadership by Ditka. Avelinni wasn't good but he was right.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Don't blame them? They should have fired him years before they actually did. Bob was replaced in 1979 by Mike Phipps. IMO, that should have ended Avellini's tenure with the team right then and there.

[@justinpope55]

This content is gold, my friend! I grew up watching the NFL in the 70's & 80's, & stuff like this (which is sadly missing in the sports universe today) makes me live it all over again. If you're taking requests, how about an episode on Don Strock, who was sitting on a beach when the Browns called him up in the late 80's when all of their qb's were hurt & went on to win a big game for them. Thanks again.

[@bugsyproductions3140]

What’s missing in sports today

[@prairiehawker]

Growing up as a Bears Season Ticket Holder (and a lifelong Cowboys Fan) I can safely say that not a week ever went by during Ditka's tenure that there was not a boatload of drama with the Bears. That being said, I'd love to see a video on Virgil Carter's "Chickenshit" comment to George Halas and the fallout from that way back when.

[@kevinmoore2929]

THAT would be something!

[@Ditka-89]

Why do you have bears season tickets if you’re a cowboys fan

[@drifterman319]

He likes a lot of friction?

[@CTubeMan]

1. Bob Avellini is one of my favorite names to cite for a team desperate for a quarterback, along with Gary Cuozzo and Babe Laufenberg. 2. In 1992 Jim Harbaugh called an audible as Bears quarterback that resulted in a Pick Six. Ditka was not pleased with that either. In a twist from this story, it was Ditka who lost his job this time as the Bears fired him after the season. 3. This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about how Ditka and the Bears abandoned the running game the week after the Seahawks game when they lost to the Cowboys.

[@CTubeMan]

I just rewatched the other video I referenced and you mentioned Derrick Henry running for over 100 yards against the Jaguars. Now we get word that Henry’s season may be over.

[@daBEAGLE1017]

I always liked how the Chicago Bears had a Bozo (Cap Boso) on a team that made the clown famous.

[@JAWrightonline]

👌"That's your IQ, buddy!" LMFAO 🤣!!!! 🤣!!!! 🤣!!!!

[@DolFan316]

@@daBEAGLE1017 Cap Boso is a Tecmo Bow legend.

[@DolFan316]

Even nearly 30 years later I STILL remember that Harbaugh play, and Ditka absolutely going off on him.

[@nasetvideos]

You nailed this one so well. I remember that feud and it was not pretty, to say the least. It's amazing how you find these stories in the archives of NFL history. Great job--Perfect way to start my week. This is the best channel on NFL history on all of KZbin, for sure.

[@derangedhippo5146]

That's facts

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

Mike Ditka could provide PLENTY of content for this channel

[@DolFan316]

Only Ditka could get sued by a woman for throwing gum at her. Yes, this was a thing.

[@bigdrew565]

@@DolFan316 ditka could rate his own channel.

[@luisfrau9810]

You know, Ditka could be monstrously overbearing, no pun intended. I’m sure there were times where he thought he was showing ‘tough love’, but many players would just think, “F*ck this as***le!”

[@MalEvansUSA]

It’s amazing. These are such great stories and narratives. Fantastic. Excellent work

[@shahzadimam8497]

just like to say really enjoying your channel. Beyond the game when I first started watching, NFL Films and the work of Ed and Steve Sabol were a big part of making me an NFL fan when I was younger with videos about the NFL in the 60's, 70's and 80's in particular. Those videos were fascinating to learn about the rich history of the NFL. These time capsule stories of yours now take me back and are well researched and presented

[@bobfane4365]

Oh the memories......Keep up the good work JG9!

[@danielhaynes2373]

1992, Jim Harbaugh did worse as the Bears QB under Ditka. Going into the 4th quarter against my Vikings in the old Metrodome, the Bears had a 20-0 lead and Ditka stressed that Harbaugh NOT call ANY audibles. Well, he did and it was an easy pick-6 for my Vikes that led to 21 unanswered points and a Vikings CFB victory. Harbaugh was shaken by his locker after the game and said that he was no longer allowed to call any audibles for the rest of the season. Ooh, I never saw Ditka so mad. Lol

[@kjchicago1]

Ditka nearly blew his top

[@BennysBenz]

I loved Matt Suey I had forgotten about Avalini after Jimmy Mac came back. Ditka had the same problem with Jim McMahon always calling his own plays.

[@vintvarner16]

Ditka always thought himself a great playcaller, if McMahon didn't like it he ignored it and called the correct play. Love McMahon, yes he was injury prone but when it came to reading a defense Jimmy Mac was like a idiot savant with that, he may have been "punky, rebel" but anybody that knew him knew how smart he was. And most of his injuries came from being reckless, he didn't slide. The Charles Martin body slam on his right shoulder in 86 really hurt him for rest of his career. Of course Soldier Field was AstroTurf then, so basically ice on top of concrete, that didn't help him either

[@davidcobb2693]

You "loved" Matt Suhey but you can't even spell the man's name correctly, sad!

[@chadadams6112]

This is quickly becoming my favorite KZbin channel, your football knowledge is incredible

[@82dorrin]

Bob Avellini really should have just run the damn play Ditka called. And he REALLY shouldn't have gotten into a bunch of ridiculous public bickering with the coach. He was nowhere near a good enough QB to win a public feud with Iron Mike. If he could've stayed on the team for one more year, he'd have gotten a Super Bowl ring.

[@67marlins]

That's a really good point- if he followed orders he would have lasted.

[@dondajulah4168]

Sucks gonna suck

[@dondajulah4168]

@@matthewdaley746 I'm pretty sure the NFLPA isnt gonna save your ass when you get cut because you A) are lucky to be on an NFL roster because you suck so bad and B) audible out of a play that the coach called and the play costs your team the game. Probably would and should have been cut even if the pass were just an incompletion, but a pick six, you cant be serious?

[@denisceballos9745]

If anything, Avellini’s tenure in Chicago lasted too long. IMO, both Mike Phipps and Vince Evans were better QBs. He really messed up with his negative comments and behavior at the end.

[@littleblackduck3134]

You think he was Connected,?

[@terrytitus6945]

Vince Evans was definetly better,he lasted a long time,one of the best backups ever but he did start his share of games!!

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Sadly, that academic now.

[@trevorhembrough1290]

All three of them sucked.

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

You should do a video about Jim Harbaugh’s (in)famous audible against the Vikings. The one when Ditka ripped him to shreds on the sideline and again after the game.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

I remember that one very well. “It’s Mike’s team…” And who could forget that “Who the hell is Mel Kiper” was also spawned by the Colts sticking w/Harbaugh at QB & drafting Marshall Faulk.

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

@@r.williamcomm7693 - To be fair, Marshall Faulk proved to be a much better player than Trent Dilfer and Heath Shuler.

[@matthewdaley746]

That, was, the Game that got him fired, 1985, seemed, 100, years, ago, that infamous day.

[@matthewdaley746]

@R. William Comm Not, for, much longer, if they'd kept Marshall Faulk, the, Colts, win, more, than, one, SB.

[@matthewdaley746]

@Mitchell Bassler Yeah, but, he would, merely, go from one team that sadly underachieved to another.

[@elwin38]

I remember Bob Avellini! The very 1st NFL game i remember watching had Avellini playing against the Cowboys in the 1977 divisional playoffs, the Cowboys destroyed them 35-7!

[@russellmurray3964]

It was actually 37-7. And it probably should have been 37-0, since the lone Bears TD came in junk time when Dallas had all the second- and third-stringers in on D.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

I'm surprised Avellini lasted as long as he did with Chicago. When he was replaced in 1979 by Mike Phipps, that should have been the end of his tenure with the Bears. Avellini should have been cut by the team much earlier than he actually was. What was Ditka thinking?

[@russellmurray3964]

@@georgfriedrichhandel4390 My guess is that Ditka would have cut Avellini after the 1983 season if Vince Evans hadn't left for the Chicago Blitz of the USFL (Evans was reported to be unhappy with his role backing up Jim McMahon, but upon further reflection, he did blow his chance to play in a Super Bowl). With Evans gone, Avellini was the new backup, but not for long. Steve Fuller was no great shakes, but he was far better than either Avellini or the even more mind-bogglingly awful Rusty Lisch. Ditka should have cut Avellini as soon as he took over in 1982. What with McMahon, Evans, and whatever the waiver wire could bring in, it would have been an improvement.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

@@russellmurray3964 Avellini should have been cut long before Ditka came to town. Bobby definitely should have been given the axe in 1979 when Mike Phipps took over as starting QB (and led the Bears to the playoffs). Simply put, the Bears didn't need Bobby after that. And then when Phipps retired after the 1981 season, there was Evans and then came McMahon. By this time, Avellini was nothing more than a millstone for the team. And yes, once Ditka was coach, he should have dumped Avellini. Talk about overstaying your welcome!

[@82dorrin]

@@russellmurray3964 Ah yes. Rusty Lisch. That guy who got yanked in favor of playing WALTER PAYTON at QB, he was that bad. I'm surprised JaguarGator hasn't done a video about that yet.

[@dangeiger9796]

It worked out pretty well for the Bears, they won the Super Bowl the next season. This was not the last time Mike Ditka got into a feud on the field with a QB over an audible. There was a similar incident in 1992 with Jim Harbaugh, which contributed to Ditka’s firing after the season

[@matthewdaley746]

His meltdown exacerbated it.

[@michaelkawell3300]

He wanted to kill harbaugh

[@matthewdaley746]

​​​@@michaelkawell3300He didn't oh drat.

[@markbrian7179]

Ditka went threw a slew of quarterbacks in 1984. I believe Greg Landry started the final game of the season.

[@augustuscaesar9995]

Ditka even tried Walter Payton at QB running the wildcat on almost every play. Somebody posted part of that game against the Packers on KZbin

[@Lawomenshoops]

You missed the fact that after the 83 season, Vince Evans signed with the USFL, thus the Bears needed a backup QB. Evans started a couple games in 83, before Ditka named McMahon the starter. He also started every game in 81, and the Bears realized they needed to draft a QB in 82. Evans got more money and a chance to start in the USFL, so he bailed. Obviously drafting a QB, wouldn't provide a veteran backup, so they only option was Cravellini. I mean Avelleni.

[@Seanpatf66]

That’s why they traded for Steve Fuller, but he hurt his shoulder in preseason, hence slow mo Bob.

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@Seanpatf66 They traded for Fuller about half way through the 84 season. Fuller didn't go to training camp with the Bears in 84. The shoulder Fuller hurt happened in 87, when McMahon was coming back from his shoulder surgery.

[@misterresister8271]

I liked Vince Evans. Dude liked to throw the bomb...

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@Seanpatf66 and Fuller won that playoff game vs Washington in 84.

[@tbraysfan2008]

Do a story when Ditka emptied out Ricky Watts locker and telling him that his last game you will ever play in the NFL.

[@erickennedy8534]

Classic Diktia shit right their

[@DolFan316]

Who is Ricky Watts? I can't find him on PFR. Do you mean Ricky Watters?

[@johnnyboy9461]

@@DolFan316 No, he means Ricky Watts, who came out of Tulsa. At the time, he was the best receiver the Bears had, and thought he was secure. But he showed up late for a team meeting, and Ditka cleaned out his locker because he wanted players who cared about the team first.

[@bjchit]

@@DolFan316 Rickey Watts.

[@tbraysfan2008]

@@DolFan316 Former Bears WR.

[@brent1969able]

You talking about a blast from the past! Forgot all about Bob Avellini! Great work. This was awesome.

[@Buddycoop1]

Remember as a kid wanting to kill him and wondering why the hell is he never cut? He ruined every game like that one relative that ruins every holiday.

[@bigdrew565]

I consider it to be like Dave Brown with the Giants. He was so bad, the local rock station did a parody of Bad, Bad Leroy Brown called Bad Sad David Brown.

[@debbiehenson1096]

From 77-82 the Bear's had some good teams with no QB. Shame they couldn't come up with something better than Avellini or Vince evans.

[@rocknroll7316]

Before I even watch this my initial reaction is Avellini has no room to criticize

[@astrosjer822]

Many fans in Chicago called him “SLO Mo Bob” as he was very immobile in the pocket!

[@Sonofjojogunne]

Slowest Bears QB ever. He “scrambled” like he had a piano strapped to his back.

[@astrosjer822]

@@Sonofjojogunne HOFer Lee Roy Selmon said Avellini was one of the easiest quarterbacks in the NFL to sack back then.

[@pellelindbergh4455]

What's a great video!😊I just found your videos, and I going to subscribe.

[@cityhawk]

Here’s a stupid question, did anyone ever tell Bob Avellini that he sucked? Looks like he didn’t get the message.

[@classicrockbeagle]

The Bears had 4 Hall of Fame QB's in training camp in 1949: Sid Luckman, Bobby Layne, Johnny Lujack, and George Blanda. After they cut Blanda in 1959, they have never had a HOF QB again

[@thechi2848]

Ditka is one of the most overrated coaches of all time.

[@classicrockbeagle]

To be honest, as soon as you mentioned the worst Bears QB, Gary Huff was the first name to come to mind

[@richardadams4928]

Rusty Lisch and Jack Concannon deserve to be on that short list. Huff gets extra credit for being so awful for Tampa Bay.

[@DolFan316]

IKR? Huff was so bad every time he replaced one of the other bad Bears QBs he made fans appreciate those guys more!

[@Seanpatf66]

What about Bobby Douglass?

[@richardadams4928]

@@Seanpatf66 Huff was Douglass without the running ability.

[@MartyPowell55]

@@richardadams4928 I was 6 when Huff played for the Bucs..and being from Tampa, I have seen a lot of awful and sad football played over the years.. Huff was dreadful, I saw that through the eyes of a child just learning the game.. He was that bad 😂😂

[@Crunkboy415]

Mike Ditka was a decent coach until he joined the Saints organization and trading all their draft picks to get Ricky Williams. Given his college stats and the expectations, turned out to be a bust in NO. Maybe make a video about that debacle and include Williams then agent, rapper Master P, who negotiated probably the worst contract ever.

[@DolFan316]

Oh yes, this HAS to be done! Just for the recap of the infamous wedding dress photo alone.

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

The Chicago Bears and bad quarterbacks. An American institution.

[@DolFan316]

Sid Luckman is still at or near the top of all their career passing records, and he retired 70 years ago. Think about that for a minute or ten.

[@Necron990]

Top these Bear QB's Chad Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, Jonathan Quinn. Remember Bear's fan that great 2004 season with these guys under center?

[@Sonofjojogunne]

Jonathan Quinn was atrocious in 2004. Worse than Krenzel that same year IMO. I honestly thought the guy was incapable of completing a pass at one point.

[@axer3515]

I remember watching show a talk show one time and a offensive lineman from the Bears was asked if he ever played with anybody who was good at practice but no good in the games.. He said yes Bob Avellini. He said he was a captain during practice but then disappeared on game days. He said Bob had no leadership but everybody on the team really like him.

[@kibitznec700]

It dont matter if it was right to cut Avelini, that Ditka guy was a complete total jerk it dont matter if he took the Bears to SBXX victory the guy was a complete jerk.

[@kv5904]

Nice job with this. I didn’t realize #7 was on the ‘84 team.

[@ZeroCrystal]

4:51 I come for some knowledge, but I stay for that.

[@SWog617]

If "the worst QB in the history of the Bears" is on the team for 10 years, you really ought to blame the General Manager.

[@82dorrin]

4:50 The moment you were all waiting for.

[@olofpalme63]

In retrospect, I was amazed Avellini played in Chicago as long as he did, especially under Ditka, he did have a string of fairly decent games from '75 thru '77, most notable his career best against the Rams on MNF in 1977 in which he threw 3 TD bombs in the pouring rain and ignited Chicago's 6 game win streak with a TD to Greg Latta in the closing seconds against the Chiefs while guiding the Bears to the playoffs against the Cowboys, before landing back to reality in a 37-7 loss, but aside from a 3 game win streak to open the '78 campaign. He was benched in favor of Mike Phipps in the midst of a 8 game losing streak while never progressing as he did in '76. Avellini's career had peaked, and it was all down hill from there. It's interesting to note that, as bad as Avellini's statistics were, James Scott did manage to finish second in the NFC with 50 receptions, while being snubbed from the Pro Bowl.

[@orbyfan]

T.J. Rubley's quarterbacking career in Green Bay ended in similar fashion in 1995, and would make a good companion video to this one. That's one of the most impressive "highlight" videos of a particular player that I've ever seen. To be fair, Avellini wasn't getting very good protection on some of those plays. I remember watching the telecast of the Bears' last game of the 1974 season, a 42-0 loss in Washington, when they used Gary Huff and Joe Barnes at quarterback. Deacon Jones kicked the extra point after the last touchdown. I'd like to see that game again on KZbin. There's already a video on this channel about Bobby Douglass, but don't forget Jack Concannon in that list of QBs from the late '60s-late '70s. Neill Armstrong not only had trouble finding a good quarterback in Chicago, but he coached the Edmonton Eskimos from 1964-1969, and never had a consistently good quarterback during that era.

[@misterresister8271]

TJ Rubley Tuesday...hap tip to Chris Berman

[@johnaldine4099]

Jim Finks deserves credit for helping build the '85 Bears but he had a BLIND spot with quarterbacks. Bear scout Bill Tobin want to draft Joe Montana in '79 but Finks ended up drafting Willie McClendon in the third round. The 49ers picked Montana a few picks later. The Bears had Avellini, Phipps and Evans. They didn't want to complicate the issue.

[@Boomhower89]

Avellini did suck hugely but the bears offense has always been crappy.

[@littleblackduck3134]

I was ready to go with Bobby Douglass as the worst, at least Avelinni made the Playoffs in '77

[@DolFan316]

I saw Craig Krentzel play. Hard to say anybody was worse than him. Krentzel was so bad he only played part of one season wand was never seen in the NFL again.

[@NickWeissMusic]

It's hilarious what the Bears have thrown on the field over the years, I remember Henry Burris and Chad Hutchinson lasting 1 start. Avellini was a real survivor, somehow....

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Avelini was so inefficient. I recall in 1977 when the Bears played the Cowboys in a playoff game, Dallas stacked nine men on Walter Payton and Bob still couldn’t find any open receivers with man coverage. Dallas blew out Chicago 47 to 7. I still say the worst move Halas ever did to his dying day was diss George Allen. The Bears didn’t draft any quality players since he let Allen go until Walter Payton in 1975. The old man (Halas) didn’t realize the game passed him by. thankfully, Jim Finks’ talent blossomed by 84’.

[@SteeleZack]

There had been great HCs who never won a SB and there had been not so great HCs that had won a SB , Mike Ditka is one of these HCs.

[@23_CM]

Avellini’s numbers in Payton’s 275-yard game makes for some grim reading... 4/6, 33 yards, INT

[@matthewdaley746]

Sort of explains why, a, RB, with, a, +100°, fever, is the better option, Walter Payton, 1975-1981, In, A, Nutshell.

[@DolFan316]

@@matthewdaley746 Payton was even a better passer than any Bears QB during this time as well!

[@matthewdaley746]

@DolFan316 He had to do absolutely everything, for, the Bears, before, Mike Ditka arrived, because, they, were, just, so, bad, period.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Despite Payton's performance, the Bears only won that game 10-7. The Bears got into the playoffs that years in spite of Avellini.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@georgfriedrichhandel4390 What horribly bizarre results.

[@argelbargel7680]

I saw Avellini practice the summer before his rookie season, when the Bears used to practice in Lake Forest. I was impressed by his passing, but of course practice throws aren't the same as playing a real game against a real defense.

[@wvu-alum-0619]

But would his passer rating be better if he simply spiked the ball on every throw?

[@dangeiger9796]

I heard of Bob Avellini’s passing I decided to re-watch this video

[@priley530]

I met Bob Avellini in Chicago in the fall of 2003. He shook my hand and asked me, "Don't you know who I am?". I responded "Nope." He said his name, and proceeded to brag about how awesome he was. Most arrogant person I've ever met.

[@sludge4125]

Ask him how many DUIs he’s gotten.

[@sludge4125]

Now, what are the details here. You don’t know who he is, but you met him...somewhere. And you shook his hand, even though you didn’t know him. I’m calling nonsense on your part.

[@priley530]

@@sludge4125 He was talking to a friend of mine. I introduced myself, and that's when he asked if I knew who he was.

[@sludge4125]

@@priley530 Thank you.

[@edpinkerton7947]

I probably watched 90% of the games bob started. And while he wasn’t very talented he was the game manager that jack pardee wanted. We used to call him slo mo bob ran like he was dragging a anvil had a few good games in 77 look up the KC & Rams Monday night game. Might have been limited athleticly but was tough as nails. Took a lot of beatings and always came back for more. A lot worse QBs have played for the beloved

[@sludge4125]

I refer to him as DUI Bob.

[@jnjtiger]

Says all you need to know about Bears’ management that Avellini was on team for ten years.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

My thoughts exactly. It sort of reminded me of a bad marriage that both parties didn't know how to end and hoped would one day get better but never did!

[@ryanjacobson2508]

I'm guessing Bob was a nice guy and hard worker that management sympathized with.

[@youbigdummy4866]

The Avellini era was probably the worst of all the bad quarterbacks of the bears over the last 5 decades.

[@jab1289]

In the 1979 draft, the Bears' original plan (according to scout Bill Tobin) was to take Joe Montana in Round 3. However, when Round 3 came around, GM Jim Finks changed his mind because they had Avellini and Phipps (lol) at QB (along with Vince Evans, who was considered the future at that point).

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

OMG, I didn't know that! Talk about a missed opportunity. In 2017, history would repeat itself when the Bears had a chance to draft Patrick Mahomes but went with Mitch Trubisky instead. Let's hope Justin Fields turns out to be better choice.

[@Zeitgeistmusic997]

@3:08 I thought Neil Armstrong was an astronaut

[@JAWrightonline]

Different guy.

[@Bruce12867]

@@JAWrightonline ...who failed to take the Bears to new heights.

[@BrentHarmon]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neill_Armstrong

[@kaminator515]

It's sad my first memories of Being a Bears and Walter Payton fan was shrouded by not just bad, but horrific and embarrassing QB play. How did Avellini last a decade is still one of the great unknown wonders of the world 🤣

[@argelbargel7680]

Bobby Douglass and Kordell Stewart lasted a decade; also mysterious. At least Gary Huff only made five years.

[@realMartinHamilton]

Always wondered what happened to Avellini

[@nickkaning7616]

The Bears are notoriously bad concerning QB decisions. Jim McMahon remains the best QB they have ever fielded (since the merger). If they could only draft QBs like they so LBers. Hey....another video idea. Do a segment on how certain franchises are GREAT at drafting certain positions. Steelers: WR Bears: LB Cowboys: Offensive linemen Vikings: Defensive lineman Raiders:Felons

[@derekbrown2215]

What about Jay Cutler he wasn't bad.

[@matthewdaley746]

Cowboys, also, draft, felons.

[@matthewdaley746]

@derek brown Jay Cutler, was, really great, he, won, a, SB, for, the Packers.

[@derekbrown2215]

@@matthewdaley746 Seriously though if you look at it statistically Cutler was pretty good

[@matthewdaley746]

@@derekbrown2215 No statistics will overcome him quitting in the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Sadly, Bob Avellini (who has worked in real estate for the last 30 years or so) completely fell off the wagon. 18 months in prison for a DUI and millions of dollars in debt.

[@johnaldine4099]

Fuller was not available for the Seattle game, he was hurt. Fuller injured his shoulder in the preseason

[@newtheis]

Hey, as long as you made a film about "Slo-Mo", maybe you could do one on Noah Jackson? Two guys who Ditka had in mind when he said in 1983 "I've got good news and bad news; the good news is that we're going to win the Super Bowl; the bad news is that half of you won't be here.".

[@littleblackduck3134]

That's a Chuck Noll line

[@newtheis]

@@littleblackduck3134 not to be argumentative, but Noll said (per Andy Russell, on NFL Films) "We get to training camp, and the first speech to the team he says, 'I've been watching the game film since I took the job, and I can tell you the reason you've been losing is not because of your attitude or your psyche or any of that stuff. The problem is you're not good enough. You can't run fast enough, you can't jump high enough, you're not quick enough, your techniques are just abysmal. I'm going to probably have to get rid of most of you and we're going to move on''. Andy and 4 others made it to 1974

[@urbanleftbehind]

I thought Bobbie Massie and Charles Leno Jr were just Noah Jackson and Revie Sorey moved from G to T. Leno got Ryan Fitzpatrick killed in the 1st WFT game this season.

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

He said that in the Bears first mini-camp in 1982, before his first season coaching the team started.

[@NillyNilly546]

Bob was asking for a death wish by saying that to Ditka.

[@bubbafug00gle51]

I'm surprised the Cowboys brought Avellini in to camp, Ditka was sort of a Landry protégé. You would think a character check on him would happen and disqualify him from consideration

[@tookmyjob]

Avellini's stat lines are a sight to behold. Yuck.

[@DolFan316]

Still looks like a Hall Of Famer compared to Kim McQuilken.

[@82dorrin]

@Official JaguarGator9 You should do a video about Rusty Lisch. AKA that guy who Ditka pulled to play Walter Payton at QB instead, because he was so terrible. You could have a field day with that game. Definitely drop your

[@nbafan9388]

"Click the card in the upper right corner" drinking game at 10:50 and 11:35

[@rick8125]

Hey Bob, have you ever enjoyed a beer at the Dublin pub? GO Gladiators!!

[@laurquinn3574]

Mc Mahon was the only QB tough enough to do anything for any of Ditka teams.

[@zman0729]

I started following the Bears in 1976 when I was 7. So, obviously, I have witnessed a whole hell of a lot of quarterbacks, more specifically bad quarterback play. He was terrible.

[@Seanpatf66]

No, the interception thrown by Jim Harbaugh to Todd Scott of the Vikings in 1992 was the beginning of the end of the Mike Dinka era in Chicago.

[@matthewdaley746]

That, was, the excuse the Bears had been hoping, for, since, 1989.

[@DolFan316]

Conspiracy theory: Harbaugh did that on purpose to get Ditka outta there.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@DolFan316 That only made the score, 20-7, in theory, at least, a lot of things still needed to happen, that, Game.

[@johnmanier7968]

Small nit: the 1977 Bears were widely expected to make the playoffs and possibly win the division. They were a surprise playoff team only because they started 3-5, capped by a 47-0 loss at Houston (where I think they *did* spike the ball on every play), but won their last 6 games to edge into the wild card. But yes, Avellini sucked. I’d forgotten he was still with the Bears in 1984.

[@d0nKsTaH]

Now that Ditka is gone.. Bob could make a comeback with the Bears. Bob Avellini 2021 baby! woohoo!

[@davanmani556]

He is in jail at the notorious Joliet one that featured the Blues brothers.

[@d0nKsTaH]

@@davanmani556 A mere technicality. NFL will have him out in no time

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Do a video on Jim Harbaugh's audible against the Vikings in 1992.

[@danielhaynes2373]

I know! Great, wasn't it?! Lol

[@pikupanndropof7339]

3:08 That is the only reason people know of Bob Avellini. That play has been played a million times. Also, talking about the worst quarterbacks in Bears history and not one word about Bobby Douglass? As a Kansas Jayhawks fan, I'm pretty happy about that.

[@DolFan316]

Douglass could at least run well.

[@Seanpatf66]

Douglass once threw 4 Td’s with a broken wrist.

[@bjchit]

@@Seanpatf66 I think the broken wrist came after.

[@DolFan316]

@@Seanpatf66 And those were the only TD passes he threw that entire season, you forgot that part.

[@cimerians]

I'm surprised Mike didn't cut him on day 1, he also had to deal with Vince Evans after McMahon was drafted. Avellini was awful, imagine if they didn't have Walter Payton on the team in the 70's

[@johnsherman4035]

I remember Avelini well. He was bad, but in fairness, his offensive lines were awful. The guy took incredible punishment and was always under seige.

[@thomasrobinson182]

I would have picked Huff. Evans did preside over the 61-7 throttling of the Packers. The clips I'm seeing show a bad o-line.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

The Bears had a chance to draft Patrick Mahomes in 2017 but chose Mitch Trubisky instead. Mahomes has already won a Super Bowl while Trubisky has been traded. Talk about a missed opportunity!

[@dangeiger9796]

My vote for worst Bears QB goes to Caleb Hanie. You could make a video on his disastrous 2011 season

[@KevinWBrown-cm6fr]

He was not a good quarterback 🤣 this guy was horrible. He was a disaster

[@scottconner7930]

37 Years Ago

[@joeylawn36111]

3:55 BLOWN UP - WOW!🤯😵

[@CJinsoo]

1979 other options was the disaster of Mike Phipps. A number 1 pick for one of the worst QBs in the NFL. At least Avellini was a 6th round pick.

[@BuckshotPA1]

Why was he still on the team?

[@gasparepavia7372]

When Ditka was crazy, but not as crazy as now.

[@warrensmitchell]

To think that one season later, the Bears would win the Super Bowl

[@MarquisdeSuave]

The sad thing about Avelini was that he took an absolute beating as the Bears QB for the better part of a decade only to get cut right before the Bears won the SB.

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

Avellini never should have lasted as long as he did with the Bears. Why would any team keep a less-than-mediocre quarterback like Avellini for nine seasons? The only explanation I can think of is that Avellini led the team to the playoffs in 1977 and everyone probably thought Avellini was better than he really was. When he was replaced as starting QB in 1979, the team should have cut him that season. Avellini was just dead weight.

[@blakfloyd]

Too bad Neill Armstrong's first priority of securing Warren Moon at QB didn't pan out.

[@geno1399]

Damn he got cut 1yr before the SB win

[@Skyscraper330]

Bob Avellini Oh my... He and Vince Evans the cornerstones of cow dung in an era in which the great Walter Payton roamed the NFL...

[@garycollins7750]

Da Bears!

[@r.williamcomm7693]

If Avellini had been a competent QB in the 1970s the Bears would’ve done much more w/Walter Payton, who was a better QB than Avellini.if McMahon had played smarter at times to stay healthy the Bears could’ve won at least 3 Super Bowls.

[@nickkaning7616]

Its amazing how much game time McMahon missed due to injury. Watch some of the complete games from the 85 season on KZbin and you will find Steve Fuller played nearly half the regular season!!!! (At least it feels that way)

[@eugenedenbrook322]

Payton might've been a QB in today's NFL. Honestly, one reason why, is that RB was a much more significant position until very recently. If QB was as protected as it is now, and offenses would've been more pass centric... well, it wasn't, but interesting to ponder.

[@matthewdaley746]

It didn't help that teams vented their frustration against the Bears onto him, his style played right into their hands.

[@matthewdaley746]

@Nick Kaning Many of the injuries, were, his own fault, because he, was, just, so, terrible at, self-preservation.

[@matthewdaley746]

@@eugenedenbrook322 As, the NFL quit being, run-first, the Bears, were, neutralized, in, truly, short order.

[@briannat1086]

Bob wasn't very good.