Louis Brian Piccolo (October 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970) was an American professional football player who was a halfback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for four years. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Brian Piccolo was a 26 year-old running back for the Chicago Bears in the fall of 1969 when he developed a cough and difficulty breathing. The diagnosis was grim: a grapefruit-sized, highly...

Apr 12, 2024 · Brian Piccolo, a running back for the Chicago Bears, passed away at the young age of 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, a form of testicular cancer, on June 16, 1970. He was survived by his wife, Joy Murrath, whom he had married in 1964, and their three young daughters, Lori, Traci, and Kristi.

On the 50th anniversary of Brian Piccolo’s death, we take a comprehensive look back at the former running back’s career with the Bears, his valiant fight against cancer and his remarkable legacy five decades later.

May 25, 2020 · As explained by Mike Vaccaro the New York Post, Bears running back Gale Sayers paid tribute to teammate Brian Piccolo during the Pro Football Writers Awards Dinner, at what is now the Sheraton Times Square in Manhattan. Sayers, who recovered from a serious knee injury to lead the league in rushing in 1969, won the George S. Halas Most ...

Dec 12, 2019 · 50 years ago, Brian Piccolo's death was heartbreaking and inexplicable. But now, we understand.

Apr 22, 2019 · Every year, the Chicago Bears hand out the Brian Piccolo Award. To some, Piccolo is a beloved figure, immortalized in a TV movie — make that two TV movies. But to many more, he might be no more...

Checkout the latest stats for Brian Piccolo. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

Jun 19, 2022 · This week 52 years ago, former Bears running back Brian Piccolo died of embryonal cell carcinoma — a rare testicular cancer. Because of his extended battle with the terminal disease (which...

The 1971 made-for-television movie "Brian's Song" tugged at the nation's heart, telling the story of Piccolo's friendship -- one that shattered racial boundaries -- with his African-American Chicago Bears teammate Gale Sayers and Piccolo's final days.