

1971·Drama·1h 13m
7.0
★






Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.
Directed by Buzz Kulik
friendship
sports
american football
terminal illness
cancer
reflective
anxious
factual
admiring

Trailer

IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch



Cast

James Caan
Brian Piccolo

Billy Dee Williams
Gale Sayers

Jack Warden
Coach Halas

Bernie Casey
J.C. Caroline

Shelley Fabares
Joy Piccolo

David Huddleston
Ed McCaskey

Judy Pace
Linda Sayers

Ron Feinberg
Veteran Player #2

Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Roommate

Doreen Lang
Nurse #1

Stu Nahan
Speaker

Mario Machado
Reporter #1
Crew

Buzz Kulik
Director

Michel Legrand
Original Music Composer

Joseph F. Biroc
Director of Photography

Paul Junger Witt
Producer

Steve Sabol
Thanks
Popular Reviews
31 reviews
Sir Steppa
7.0★ · 01/10/26

They ain’t have to scorch my team like that, come on, stick it in their ear! How he did live!
They ain’t have to scorch my team like that, come on, stick it in their ear! How he did live!
Billy Bowers
8.0★ · 10/14/25

This one is for my dad. Glad he loved movies so I grew to love movies.
This one is for my dad. Glad he loved movies so I grew to love movies.
Zane Thibodeaux
6.0★ · 07/04/25

worth watching for the Gale Sayers in-game footage alone. truly an incredible athlete.
worth watching for the Gale Sayers in-game footage alone. truly an incredible athlete.
David S
7.0★ · 05/12/25

Man if this wasn't a TV movie and it was a little longer, this would be a top 3 football movie of all time. But to be honest, they make pretty good use of the time they have. You can still feel all the emotions you are meant to feel even with it being as underdeveloped of a plot as it is because of the runtime constraints. This film surprisingly came out only like a year after all of this transpired which seems way too soon to me. It is nice to see James Caan play a likeable character for once. I have only ever seen him as a scummy character in the Godfather or Elf. Lando Calrissian being Gale Sayers is also another nice surprise. I think they both do pretty good acting jobs as well. I would say there is nothing that is really largely wrong with this film. I do think the runtime is not enough to make this film great. I wish there was more football scenes and a little more buildup of tension during the actual seasons. But overall, a good movie and a lot better than most of the TV movies today.
Man if this wasn't a TV movie and it was a little longer, this would be a top 3 football movie of all time. But to be honest, they make pretty good use of the time they have. You can still feel all the emotions you are meant to feel even with it being as underdeveloped of a plot as it is because of the runtime constraints. This film surprisingly came out only like a year after all of this transpired which seems way too soon to me. It is nice to see James Caan play a likeable character for once. I have only ever seen him as a scummy character in the Godfather or Elf. Lando Calrissian being Gale Sayers is also another nice surprise. I think they both do pretty good acting jobs as well. I would say there is nothing that is really largely wrong with this film. I do think the runtime is not enough to make this film great. I wish there was more football scenes and a little more buildup of tension during the actual seasons. But overall, a good movie and a lot better than most of the TV movies today.
Eli Host
3.0★ · 01/25/24

Didn’t understand more than three words the whole movie
Didn’t understand more than three words the whole movie