“After a long, hard three-year battle, Dad succumbed to cancer. The world has lost the best father, friend, grandfather, footballer, and overall outstanding individual. I will deeply miss him. Love you, Dad,” Jake posted on Twitter.
Bergey amassed nearly 1,200 tackles during his illustrious tenure with the Eagles, garnering Pro Bowl accolades four times while in Philadelphia. He received his initial Pro Bowl selection in 1969 as a member of the Bengals.
A stalwart linebacker, Bergey was enshrined in the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1988. He added to his accolades in 2011, joining the prestigious Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
During a preseason game against the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 2, 1977, Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles was captured on the sideline.
In 2023, Bergey opened up about his bond with Buffalo Bills icon Jim Kelly. Kelly, a legendary quarterback, battled jaw cancer and became a trusted confidant to Bergey.
Speaking to the official Eagles team website last year, Bergey shared, “He has truly inspired me. He keeps me grounded. ‘Remember,’ he’d say, ‘You’re a football player, you’re tough, and you can overcome this. You can endure this.'”
Bergey honed his football skills at Arkansas State University before embarking on a successful NFL career. Post-retirement, he contributed to the Eagles’ pregame and postgame coverage.
