Brian Piccolo

About Brian Piccolo

Louis Brian Piccolo (October 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears for four seasons. He died from embryonal cell carcinoma, which was found as a large tumor in his chest cavity. He was the subject of the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song. Piccolo was portrayed in the original film by James Caan and by Sean Maher in the 2001 remake.

Brian Piccolo – the youngest of three sons – was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on Halloween 1943. The family moved south to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when Brian was three, due his parents' concerns for his brother Don's health. Brian followed his brothers into athletics and was a star football player in high school, but considered baseball his primary sport. He graduated from the former Central Catholic High School (now St. Thomas Aquinas High School) in Fort Lauderdale in 1961.

Piccolo played college football at Wake Forest; his only other scholarship offer was from Wichita State He led the nation in rushing and scoring during his senior season in 1964, yet went unselected in the 1965 NFL Draft.