PHILADELPHIA — Bill Bergey, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who performed in a Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, died Wednesday, the workforce introduced. He was 79.
His son, Jake, posted on social media that Bergey died of most cancers. Bergey, a three-time Eagles workforce MVP in a vote of his teammates, had been open about his struggle with the illness over the previous few years.
Bergey, who was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2009, stated he had a type of jaw most cancers since 2021.
“I did not give it the previous, ‘Why me?’ or something like that,” he stated in 2003. “I simply thought that I needed to struggle it identical to I might struggle the rest that I wanted to struggle.”
Bergey was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969 and made one Pro Bowl look for them earlier than he was traded forward of the 1974 season. Bergey’s profession took off in Philadelphia and he grew to become one of many extra in style Eagles gamers in his period. He made the Pro Bowl in 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1978 and was named an All-Pro for the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
“I’ve all the time had a love affair with the followers of Philadelphia,” Bergey stated in 2023. “I’ve all the time been variety and courteous to all of them the best way up that ladder of success that I had as a result of, you will not consider it, however I’ve met the identical individuals coming again down off that ladder.”
Teamwner Jeffrey Lurie stated Bergey “gained the respect of gamers and coaches throughout the league for his blue-collar work ethic and hard-nosed play.”
“Bill exemplified what it meant to be an Eagle in each manner, and proudly represented the workforce in the neighborhood nicely after his enjoying days have been over,” Lurie stated in an announcement.
Bergey, who had 27 profession interceptions, highlighted by 5 in 1974, was one in every of 60 nominees that the Pro Football Hall of Fame seniors committee thought of this fall. He did not advance to the subsequent spherical.
His final season was 1980 underneath coach Dick Vermeil, when the Eagles misplaced to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV. Bergey, who performed faculty ball at Arkansas State, performed in all 16 video games however he retired due to a lingering knee damage.
“I all the time had a way that we have been transferring in the correct path,” Bergey stated in 2015. “Even within the early years [under Vermeil] when the wins have been few and much between, we may see the depth of the play selecting up. Dick’s persona rubbed off on us.”
Bergey served in numerous roles on Eagles radio broadcasts after he retired.
“Number 66 was one of many best gamers of all time,” longtime Eagles announcer Merrill Reese wrote on social media. “Nobody ever beloved his household, pals, and Eagles followers extra. May Bubba relaxation in peace.”
Bergey, who recorded almost 1,200 tackles in seven seasons with the Eagles, was born Feb. 9, 1945, in South Dayton, New York.
Bergey was a plaintiff within the concussion-related lawsuit in opposition to the NFL.
