1. William Earl Bergey was an American professional football linebacker who played for 12 seasons in the National Football League, most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles.
45 Facts About Bill Bergey
1. 2.
Bill Bergey played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
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Bill Bergey then signed with the Eagles the following year, where he played seven seasons until retiring in 1981.
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Bill Bergey is an inductee of the Eagles Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
5.
Bill Bergey was born in South Dayton, New York, on February 9,1945.
6.
Bill Bergey graduated from Pine Valley Central High School in South Dayton in 1964, and graduated from Arkansas State University, where he played under coach Bernie Ellender.
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Bill Bergey was an All-American for the Arkansas State Indians and has since been voted by fans the Top Player in Arkansas State history.
8.
Bill Bergey was a charter member of Delta Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Order at ASU.
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Bill Bergey graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, and a commission in the Army Reserves.
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At ASU, Bill Bergey set 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.
11.
Bill Bergey once had 33 tackles in a single game, and averaged 19.6 tackles per game in 1968.
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Bill Bergey played in three post-season all-star games during his ASU career.
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Bill Bergey was selected to the All-Southland Conference team three times and to the Southland Conference All-First Decade Team.
14.
Bill Bergey was inducted into ASU's Hall of Honor in 1982.
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Bill Bergey was chosen as an AFL All-Star in his rookie year, for the game held on January 17,1970.
16.
Bill Bergey had two interceptions for the Bengals in his rookie year.
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Bill Bergey played under Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown at Cincinnati.
18.
Bill Bergey recorded three interceptions in the 1970 season, the first year for the team in the NFL.
19.
Bill Bergey recorded a fumble recovery to go with an unofficial "sack".
20.
Bill Bergey recorded an interception in his next two combined seasons.
21.
Bill Bergey was to have joined the WFL team in May 1976, after his contract with the Cincinnati Bengals expired following the 1975 season.
22.
Bill Bergey did not receive compensation from the Blazers and was released from his WFL contract.
23.
Bill Bergey was traded from the Bengals to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 1977 first-round selection, Wilson Whitley, and first- and second-round picks in 1978, Ross Browner and Ray Griffin respectively, on July 10,1974.
24.
In July 1974, Bill Bergey signed a five-year contract with the Eagles.
25.
Bill Bergey played a key role in the Eagles' subsequent rise, culminating in the trip to Super Bowl XV.
26.
Bill Bergey earned Eagles MVP status three times from the votes of his teammates.
27.
Bill Bergey played 91 games as an Eagle, and started every game in six of the seven years in Philadelphia, with 18 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries.
28.
Bill Bergey recorded 233 tackles in a single season with the Eagles, and once held the league record for interceptions by a linebacker with five.
29.
Bill Bergey 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 1980.
30.
Bill Bergey returned in 1980, but it would be Bergey's last season.
31.
Bill Bergey finished his career with 27 interceptions that he returned for 397 yards, 16 unofficial sacks, and 21 fumble recoveries.
32.
Bill Bergey had conflicts with guard Conrad Dobler of the Eagles' NFC East rival St Louis Cardinals, who once spit on him while he was downed and injured.
33.
Bill Bergey retired from professional football in 1981, his last game being Super Bowl XV.
34.
Bill Bergey was inducted into the Eagles Roll of Honor in 1988 with Tommy McDonald.
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Bill Bergey is considered one of the top Eagles of all time.
36.
Bill Bergey was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
37.
Bill Bergey served as a color commentator on radio broadcasts of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1982 to 1983.
38.
Bill Bergey provided pre-game and post-game radio and television commentary for the team during the season for over 20 years.
39.
Bill Bergey was a plaintiff in the concussion related lawsuit against the NFL filed and settled in a Philadelphia federal court.
40.
Bill Bergey later lived in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania with his wife Micky Kay.
41.
Bill Bergey is a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
42.
Bill Bergey's 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.
43.
Bill's brother Bruce Bergey was a standout player for the Portland Storm of the WFL.
44.
In October 2024, Bill Bergey was among 60 former players under consideration for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in the Senior category, though he did not make it to the next round of 31 candidates.
45.
Bill Bergey died from cancer in Chadds Ford on December 25,2024.