Bears tight end Colston Loveland, left, and linebacker T. J. Edwards pose for photos after receiving the Brian Piccolo Award on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Halas Hall. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Bears awarded linebacker T.J. Edwards and rookie tight end Colston Loveland the team’s Brian Piccolo Award on April 21, 2026, at Halas Hall. The award is named in honor of the late Bears running back who died of cancer at age 26 in 1970. Piccolo’s friendship with Gale Sayers was memorialized in the 1971 movie “Brian’s Song.”
The award goes to one Bears rookie and one veteran player who exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Piccolo. Edwards has won the veteran award three years in a row. The award is voted on by Bears players.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland holds his Brian Piccolo Award after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson presents tight end Colston Loveland with his Brian Piccolo Award during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson presents linebacker T. J. Edwards with his Brian Piccolo Award during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Brian Piccolo Award recipients linebacker T. J. Edwards, left, and tight end Colston Loveland, right, pose for photos with Traci Piccolo Dolby, daughter of Brian Piccolo, and Chicago Bears board member Patrick McCaskey after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Brian Piccolo Award recipients linebacker T. J. Edwards, left, and tight end Colston Loveland, right, pose for photos with Traci Piccolo Dolby, daughter of Brian Piccolo, and Chicago Bears board member Patrick McCaskey after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland gives his acceptance speech after receiving the Brian Piccolo Award during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears linebacker T. J. Edwards gives his acceptance speech after receiving the Brian Piccolo Award during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson shakes hands with board member Patrick McCaskey during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren greets people after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson speaks during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears board member Patrick McCaskey shakes hands with Brian Piccolo Award recipient tight end Colston Loveland after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears board member Patrick McCaskey speaks during the the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson smiles as Chicago Bears board member Patrick McCaskey recites a poem about him and his team during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Brian Dolby, grandson of Brian Piccolo, hugs three-time Brian Piccolo Award recipient linebacker T. J. Edwards after the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Brian Piccolo Award recipients tight end Colston Loveland, left, and linebacker T. J. Edwards smile during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Traci Piccolo Dolby, daughter of Brian Piccolo, speaks during the Brian Piccolo Award Ceremony at Halas Hall on April 21, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)Bears tight end Colston Loveland, left, and linebacker T. J. Edwards pose for photos after receiving the Brian Piccolo Award on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Halas Hall. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
