Former NFL linebacker Bill Bergey has died, his son announced on Christmas Day. He was 79 years old.
Bergey who played for Philadelphia Eagles From 1974 to 1980, he had been battling cancer for the past few years. His son, Jake Bergey, said his father was a “great person.”
The native of South Dayton, New York, began his professional football career in the late 1960s when he played for the Cincinnati Bengals.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Philadelphia Eagles' Bill Bergey stretches during warm-up for a Redskins game at RFK Stadium on September 10, 1978, in Washington, D.C. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)
“After a long, hard battle that lasted 3 years, my dad lost his battle with cancer. He is the best father, friend, grandfather, football player and great person in this world. I will truly miss him. I love you, Dad.” Jake wrote On X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bergey recorded nearly 1,200 tackles during his distinguished tenure with the Eagles. It happened Pro Bowl honors Four times during his time in Philly. Bergey earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career in 1969 while with the Bengals.
Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65
The former linebacker was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1988. He received another honor in 2011 when he became a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles on the sideline during a preseason game against the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 2, 1977, in Pittsburgh. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)
In 2023, Bergi shared some details about 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' Bill Bergey kneels in front of the Oakland Raiders' Raymond Chester in 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 told the Eagles’ official website last year. “He keeps me ahead. He'd say: 'Just remember, you're a footballer, you're strong, you can get through this.' “You can handle this.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Bergi played College football In the state of Arkansas. After retiring from the NFL, Bergey spent several years contributing to the Eagles' pregame and postgame coverage.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
