Their story as a 1971 TV movie

Sayers would write about his tragic friendship with Piccolo in a 1970 autobiography, “I Am Third.” That story would then be adapted into a highly praised TV movie that was broadcast on ABC-TV on Nov. 30, 1971. The film starred James Caan as Piccolo, a pre-”Star Wars” Billy Dee Williams as Sayers, Jack Warden as Bears coach George Halas and a number of Piccolo’s and Sayers’ Bears teammates as themselves.

As is the case with many filmed biopics, the TV movie plays a little loose with real-life facts.

■ Caan uses a deliberate Southern accent at times to portray the Wake Forest alumnus. In fact, Piccolo was originally from Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

■ As coaches walk Sayers through the downsides of rooming with a white player, they warn that people in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and Miami won’t take well to integrated roommates. Sayers and Piccolo became roommates in 1965. None of those cities had NFL teams in 1965.

■ Sayers and Piccolo are shown interacting throughout their careers with famed Chicago Bears coach and owner George Halas. In fact, Halas retired as coach after the 1967 season but continued to serve as general manager.

■ Sayers far surpassed Piccolo in speed and running ability. But Caan had played football in high school and was a much more accomplished athlete than Williams. Caan had to hold back considerably in scenes in which they worked out together.

“Brian’s Song” would go on to win four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. In addition, Michel Legrand’s haunting theme song for the movie would win a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.

The film would be remade in 2001 for ABC’s “Wonderful World of Disney” starring Sean Maher as Piccolo and Mekhi Phifer as Sayers. Most critics agreed that version didn’t quite live up to the original.

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