.jpg)
Community Quarterback: Remembering Walter Payton Award
Brian Piccolo Award
Coach of the Week
NFL/Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
 |
The Chicago Bears and Bernard Berrian announced John C. Long, 81, of Helen Mary Stevick Senior Citizens Center in Champaign as the 2004 Chicago Bears Community Quarterback winner. The NFL created this award to honor volunteers who demonstrate leadership and dedication while bettering the communities they live in. The Community Quarterback program annually donates nearly $1 million to organizations served by outstanding volunteers in NFL cities. The Bears donated $10,000 to the Center on behalf of Mr. Long. In addition, the Bears donated $1,500 grants to two runners-up and $1,000 grants to seven other organizations. The ten Community Quarterback finalists were recognized at a luncheon on Tuesday, December 7 at Maggiano's Old Orchard. In addition to the Stevick Senior Center, the following organizations were honored at the luncheon: American Diabetes Association, Rogers Park Branch Library, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Guardian Angel Home of Joliet, Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center, Misericordia, Off the Street Club, Predestined, Inc., and San Miguel Schools. If you would like to nominate an outstanding volunteer for the 2005 Bears Community Quarterback Award, nomination forms will be available in late summer.
 |
| Center Olin Kreutz and cornerback Charles Tillman received the 2003 Brian Piccolo Award |
BRIAN PICCOLO AWARD
Brian Piccolo signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 1965. After spending his first year on the taxi squad, Piccolo played the four subsequent years for the Bears. During his time on the active roster, he rushed 258 times for 927 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 58 passes for 537 yards and one touchdown. Brian Piccolo died of embryonal cell carcinoma on June 16, 1970. He was 26 years old.
Since 1970, Chicago Bears veterans have voted and awarded the "Brian Piccolo Award" to the Bears rookie who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo. In 1992, this award was expanded to include a veteran who possesses the same qualities. The 2003 winners of the Brian Piccolo Award were veteran center Olin Kreutz and rookie cornerback Charles Tillman.
| Brian Piccolo Award Winners | |||
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
| 1970 | Glen Holloway (G) | 1987 | Ron Morris (WR) |
| 1971 | Jerry Moore (S) | 1988 |
James Thornton (TE) |
| 1972 | Jim Osborne (DT) | 1989 | Trace Armstrong (DE) |
| 1973 | Wally Chambers (DT) | 1990 | Mark Carrier (S) |
| 1974 | Fred Pagac (TE) | 1991 | Chris Zorich (DT) |
| 1975 | Roland Harper (RB) | 1992 | Mike Singletary (LB) Troy Auzenne (T) |
| 1976 | Brian Baschnagel (WR) | 1993 | Tom Waddle (WR) Myron Baker (LB) Todd Perry (T) |
| 1977 | Ted Albrecht (T) | 1994 | Shaun Gayle (S) Raymont Harris (RB) |
| 1978 | John Skibinski (RB) | 1995 | Erik Kramer (QB) Rashaan Salaam (RB) |
| 1979 | Dan Hampton (DE) | 1996 | Chris Zorich (DT) Bobby Engram (WR) |
| 1980 | Bob Fischer (TE) | 1997 | Ryan Wetnight (TE) John Allred (TE) Van Hiles (S) |
| 1981 | Mike Singletary (LB) | 1998 | Bobby Engram (WR) Tony Parrish (S) |
| 1982 | Jim McMahon (QB) | 1999 | Marcus Robinson (WR) Jerry Azumah (CB) |
| 1983 | Jim Covert (T) | 2000 | Clyde Simmons (DE) Brian Urlacher (LB) |
| 1984 | Shaun Gayle (S) | 2001 | James Williams (T) Anthony Thomas (RB) |
| 1985 | Kevin Butler (K) | 2002 | Phillip Daniels (DE) Alex Brown (DE) |
| 1986 | Neal Anderson (RB) | 2003 | Olin Kreutz (C) Charles Tillman (CB) |
COACH OF THE WEEK
For nine weeks during the high school football season, the Bears selected one high school football head coach as their "Coach of the Week" winner. This program was created to honor high school coaches who develop player football skills and knowledge, character and leadership, discipline, teamwork abilities and contributions to his program, players and community. Graduation rates, coaching technique, school and fan support and, most importantly, contributions to players' long-term success on and off the field are also included.
All "Coach of the Week" winners were recognized at the Bears-Texans game on Sunday, December 19. Honorees also received a $1,500 contribution to their school's football program and a framed certificate signed by Head Coach Lovie Smith. They also attended a Bears practice and "chalk-talk" with Coach Smith.
| 2004 Winners | ||
| Week | Name | School |
| Week 1 | John Belskis | Downers Grove South |
| Week 2 | Dave Pendergast | Conant |
| Week 3 | Mike Allen | Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley |
| Week 4 | Bruce Bazsali | Elk Grove |
| Week 5 | Jeff Harres | New Berlin |
| Week 6 | Larry McKeon | Naperville North |
| Week 7 | Steve Tadlock | Austin |
| Week 8 | Rich Rio | Lane Tech |
| Week 9 | Peter Thanos | Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep |
NFL/WALTER PAYTON MAN OF THE YEAR
The most prestigious NFL honor recognizing a player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field is named after one of our very own: Walter Payton. The NFL Walter Payton "Man of the Year" award is the only League award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence. This prestigious NFL award has been in existence since 1970 and honors players who demonstrate outstanding balance in their lives between civic and professional responsibilities. John Tait was the Bears nominee for the 2004 NFL/Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Tait was new to the Chicago community, but that didn't stop him from jumping in and getting involved with a number of different charities. During the 2004 season he visited Misericordia for a Halloween party where he painted pumpkins, participated in various Halloween activities and ran football drills with residents. He also took part in the Bears School Outreach program, where Bears players visit various Chicago Public Schools to speak to, motivate, and interact with students.
 |
| John Tait was the Bears nominee for the 2004 NFL/Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. |
When the Bears hosted special groups at Halas Hall to watch practice or mini-camps, John was always one of the first players to stop by. Whether it be a group of sailors from Great Lakes Naval Station, Special Olympics athletes, or the two young men who suffered tragic spinal cord injuries, John always took the time to stop and introduce himself and visit with the guests.
John's latest contribution to the community is the perfect example of why he is worthy of this award. A mother in a nearby community recently gave birth to quintuplets. While this situation would be extremely difficult under the very best of circumstances, this specific one was made harder by the fact that the father of the quints had been recently injured while serving with the Marines in Iraq. After hearing of this family's story, John and his wife, Geneva, donated clothing and other necessities to the family, along with Bears memorabilia for the quints' big brother (age 7) to use as decorations in his new bedroom. John has been a wonderful addition not only to the Bears but to the Chicago community.
 |
 |