The on-field success didn't exactly follow, however, with coaches Jim Dooley and Abe Gibron unable to lead a winning season through 1975. But an upswing began that year with the hiring of coach Jack Pardee and the drafting of Walter Payton. The Bears were 7-7 in 1976, and made the playoffs the next season as Payton's 1852 rushing yards earned him the league MVP award, and his 275 yards rushing in a single game set a record that would stand for 23 years. In 1979, the Bears finished 10-6 under Neil Armstrong before losing to the Eagles in the wild card game.
The 70s also brought the retirements of both Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus, and the death of running back Brian Piccolo. Piccolo's passing inspired both the TV movie Brian's Song and the team's annual Brian Piccolo Award, an honor handed out each season since 1970 to one Bears rookie and veteran who exemplify Piccolo's courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor.
