Bill Bergey

Bill Bergey
No. 66
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1945-02-09) February 9, 1945
Place of birth: South Dayton, New York
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 243 lb (110 kg)
Career information
College: Arkansas State
NFL draft: 1969 / Round: 2 / Pick: 31
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games: 159
Interceptions: 27
Fumble recoveries: 21
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

William Earl Bergey (born February 9, 1945) is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player. He played collegiately for Arkansas State University and for the American Football League's Cincinnati Bengals and the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.

College career

Bergey was born in South Dayton, New York in 1945 and graduated from Arkansas State University (ASU) in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. He was an All-American with the Arkansas State Indians and has been voted by fans the Top Player in Arkansas State history.[1] He was a charter member of Delta Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Order at ASU.

Bergey set ASU records for best tackling average in a season, most fumble recoveries in a season, most tackles in a game, most tackles in a season, and most career tackles. In 1968, Bergey averaged 19.6 tackles per game. He played in three post-season all-star games during his ASU career; he was selected to the All-Southland Conference team three times and to the Southland Conference All-First Decade Team. Bergey's jersey number 66 was retired by ASU.[2]

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

Bergey was drafted by the American Football League's Cincinnati Bengals in the second round in 1969 and was an AFL All-Star in his first year.[3] Bergey started for the Bengals for five years. After Bergey signed a "futures contract" with the World Football League, Bengals coach Paul Brown traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for two first-round and one second-round draft picks.[4] When the WFL folded, his contract became voided. Bergey played a key role in the Eagles' subsequent rise, culminating in the trip to Super Bowl XV.

Philadelphia Eagles

With the Eagles, Bergey, a four-time All-Pro, set the NFL record for most interceptions by a linebacker and became the highest-paid defensive player in the league with a four-year contract for $1 million.[5] He earned Eagles MVP status three times. Bergey recorded 233 tackles in a single season with the Eagles. He was a popular player who was the foundation of the "Gang Green" defense that brought the Eagles back to the playoffs in 1978, 1979, and to the Super Bowl in 1980.[6] He retired from professional football in 1981. He was inducted into the Eagles Roll of Honor in 1988.[7]

Personal

During his playing days, Bergey served as a lieutenant in the Army Reserve.

Bergey served as a color commentator on Eagles radio broadcasts from 1982 to 1983, and now does pre-game and post-game radio and television commentary for the team during the season.[8] He currently lives in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with his wife Micky. He is a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.[9]

His son Jake Bergey is a retired lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League and his son Josh Bergey is a retired lacrosse player for the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the Major League Lacrosse.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Bill Bergey". Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ "ASU to retire number Saturday at football game". The Herald Archives. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Bill Bergey". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  4. ↑ "BILL BERGEY All-Pro NFL Football Player". Arkansas State University. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ "BILL BERGEY All-Pro NFL Football Player". Arkansas State University. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bergey: House Fire 'Devastating'". Philly.Com. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bill Bergey". Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  8. ↑ "BERGEY TO SERVE AS EAGLES’ HONORARY CAPTAIN VS. JETS". Bleed Green. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ "BILL BERGEY". Grater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Josh Bergey enjoying life on sidelines Marple Newtown rookie lacrosse coach says the Tigers are on their way to contending.". Philly.com. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

External links

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, February 19, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.