Former Bears first round draft pick Dick Evey died Thursday in Knoxville, Tenn., after a debilitating illness at 72.
A 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive lineman who played end and tackle, Evey came to the Bears in 1964 out of Tennessee as the 14th overall pick in the NFL draft.
He played in 82 games for the team over six seasons, then finished his career with the Rams in 1970 and the Lions in 1971.
He played during a dark era of Bears football. The team went 34-47-3 and never made the postseason during his tenure. He recovered six fumbles and had two interceptions for the Bears.
“He left nothing in the tank,” Bears teammate Ed O’Bradovich said. “He gave it everything he had, every play, every game. He was a good Bear, a damn good football player.”
After he retired, Evey worked in real estate development and construction and was involved in the restoration of a historic mill.
According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, he was one of the first recipients of The 88 Plan, a fund administered by the NFL for former players with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS or Parkinson’s disease. The fund contributes up to $88,000 per year per person.
There will be a celebration of Evey’s life Wednesday at Smithview Pavilion in Maryville, Tenn.
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