Just moments after the Eagles turned back the Green Bay Packers on the three yard line as the clock expired to win the 1960 NFL Championship at Franklin Field — Philadelphia fans stormed the field. As the endzone goalposts tipped over, the reputation of Eagles fans was already becoming something of lore. It would be the last time that the Eagles would make the playoffs until the arrival of Bill Bergey.
Some NFL Players embody the very persona of the teams that they play for. They become a recognized face of their respective units. Through hard work, relentless play, and a unwavering will to win — that was the Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey. You couldn’t have picked a linebacker with a better personality fit for Philadelphia.
When Bergey was traded to the Eagles in 1974 in exchange for a 1977 first-round draft pick and a first and second round draft pick in 1978 — he was the perfect fit for Philadelphia. Passionate about his love for the Eagles off of the field and devasting on it, Bergey was a key piece of the Eagles Super Bowl XV Team.
Bergey’s arrival in Philadelphia was perfectly timed. Within two years — UCLA Coach Dick Vermeil was hired as Eagles Head Coach. The combination was one of the major factors that helped to turn the franchise around. Bergey helped the Eagles to advance to the NFC Playoffs in 1978, 1979, and 1980. In the 1980 NFC Championship Game, he helped the Eagles defense stifle the Cowboys in a 20–7 victory and berth in Super Bowl XV.
As a Philadelphia Eagle, Bill Bergey was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, playing in 91 games for the Eagles, including fifteen fumble recoveries and eighteen interceptions. He even had 233 tackles for the Eagles. His famous feud with St. Louis Cardinals offensive tackle Conrad Dobler was legendary, and started when Dobler spit on Bergey when he was injured. He would end his playing career making over 1,200 tackles for the Eagles.
The Super Bowl loss in 1981 would by Bill Bergey’s last game in the NFL, hampered by a knee injury that limited his play. He became a proud member of the Eagles Roll of Honor in 1988. Beginning in 1982, Bergey would spend two decades on radio and television analyzing the Eagles. Bill Bergey passed from cancer on Christmas Day this year. He was 79 years old.
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