The Bears were in the midst of a 1–13 season in 1969, the worst record in their history. Piccolo had earned a place in the starting lineup as an undersized fullback. Their only win came in the eighth game on November 9, a 38–7 home win over struggling Pittsburgh. Piccolo opened the scoring at Wrigley Field with a touchdown reception in the first quarter. The next week in Atlanta, he scored a fourth-quarter touchdown on a one-yard run, and then voluntarily removed himself from the game, something he had never done, raising great concern among his teammates and coaches. Breathing while playing 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.Brian Piccolo, Chicago Bears Running Back 1965–1969
