Former NFL linebacker Bill Bergey has died, his son announced on Christmas Day. He was 79 years old.
Bergey, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1974 to 1980, had been battling cancer in recent years. His son Jake Bergie said his father was “just a great man.”
The South Dayton, New York, native began his professional soccer career in the late 1960s, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles stretches during warm-ups for a game against the Redskins on September 10, 1978 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)
Jake said: “After a long and difficult three-year battle, my father lost his battle with cancer. He was the best father, friend, grandfather, football player, and simply a great man. I will miss you so much. I love you dad.” X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bergie recorded nearly 1,200 tackles during his illustrious tenure with the Eagles. He earned Pro Bowl honors four times during his time in Philadelphia. Bergey was a Pro Bowl candidate for the first time in his career in 1969 while with the Bengals.
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The former linebacker was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2011, he achieved another honor by becoming a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles stands on the sideline during a preseason game against the Steelers on September 2, 1977 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)
In 2023, Bergey detailed his relationship with Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly. The former Bills quarterback battled jaw cancer and became one of Bergey's trusted confidants.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey kneels on Oakland Raiders tight end Raymond Chester during Super Bowl XV at the Superdome in New Orleans on January 25, 1981. (Manny Rubio-USA Today Sports)
“He was kind of my inspiration,” Bergey said on the Eagles' official team website last year. “He keeps me motivated. 'Remember,' he would say, 'remember, you're a football player, you're tough, and you can win this. You can get through this.'
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Bergey played college football at Arkansas State University. After retiring from the NFL, Bergey contributed to the Eagles' pregame and postgame coverage for several years.
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