Certain names come to mind when fans talk about the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears... Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers... Ray Nitschke of the Green Bay Packers... And, who can forget Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis?
When that happens, a monster and granite tackler with the same ferocity often flies under the radar. He's passed on, but we keep thinking about Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles family.
Bergey died on Christmas Day succumbing to a battle with mouth cancer. He was 79 years of age.
Eagles fans from the late 1970s remember Bergey dominating the middle of the 'Gang Green Defense' that in the year after his arrival allowed 176 fewer points.
He is credited with 1,200 career tackles. He was a five-time All-Pro. He played in 159 games and helped push the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1981.
Bill Bergey was an ambassador for Philly's tough reputation.
He served as a poster boy for the city of Philadelphia’s blue-collar, punch-you-in-the-face reputation. He even added 27 interceptions to his resume.
We're paraphrasing slightly, but legendary Philadelphia broadcaster John Facenda of NFL Films once said "Bergey’s brawling style captivated fans", and it's 'hot licks instead of cold statistics that measure a middle linebacker'. As Facenda stated, Bergey intimidated teams with undiminished hitting.
“Pretty touchdowns might flutter your heart, (but) a Bergey hit is felt in your gut."
Frankly, we couldn't have said that any better ourselves.
Bill Bergey helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance.
After growing up near Buffalo, Bergey graduated from Arkansas State and his Eagles career is reminiscent of beloved recently retired Eagles center, Jason Kelce. He led by example.
During the last three years of his seven-year Eagles reign, Bergey carried the team to consecutive playoff appearances.
That his name is not mentioned among the greats may be attributed to his soft off-the-field demeanor. He was gentle bear of a man with an effeminate delivery that beguiled his on-field savagery.
His speaking style was much like that of Chicago Bears legendary running back Walter Payton, who was dubbed 'Sweetness' for his velvet, high-pitched trill, but pounded defensive tacklers rather than step out of bounds.
In shadow of Eagles great
Even among defenders in Eagles history, Bergey stood in the shadow of the more boisterous, but no less brutal, Chuck 'Concrete Charlie' Bednarik. Bednarik played both ways as an offensive center and defensive linebacker through the 1950s and led the Eagles to their first championship in 1960.
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Bergey into the American Football League in 1969, where he won Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 1974, he narrowly lost out on Defensive Player of the Year honors to 'Mean' Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bergey wore the number 66 Eagles jersey but told one broadcaster that he ended up on his head so much that people thought his number was 99. He even had his own legion of fans at Veterans Stadium. They sat in a section coined 'Bergey’s Bruisers.'
The legend's last game with the franchise was Super Bowl XV. If only they could have sent him off with a win. A nagging knee injury ended his career. True Eagles fans should watch Bergey's highlights on YouTube. You will never see a more ferocious tackler.