Chicago Bears signed Brian Piccolo 50 years ago -- and he became an inspiration

Fifty years ago, the Chicago Bears had the third and fourth selections in the NFL Draft. Those choices turned into Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus, Hall of Famers.

Not chosen in that draft, but signed as a free agent was Brian Piccolo, a running back from Wake Forest.

Piccolo eventually became the centerpiece of one of the great sports movies -- "Brian's Song" -- which told the story of his battle against cancer.

Piccolo suffered from embryonal cell carcinoma, a form of testicular cancer that spread to his chest. He died at the age of 26 on June 16, 1970.

A month before Piccolo passed away, Sayers was awarded the George S. Halas Award for Most Courageous Bears player.

The Hall of Famer made a speech when accepting the award that became a focal moment of "Brian's Song," saying, ""I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees to pray, please ask God to love him, too."

The original speech did not transcend Chicago as there was no Internet, no cable television to spread the message.

However, when the movie aired as an ABC movie of the week on Nov. 30, 1971, the story swept the nation.

James Caan starred as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams played Sayers.

Piccolo's widow, Joy, remains president of the Brian Piccolo Research Fund.

The Chicago Bears present the Brian Piccolo Award to one rookie and one veteran who best portray the back's courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and sense of humor.