BILL BERGEY

Bill BergeyBILL BERGEY, All-Pro NFL Player

BILL BERGEY proved to be an enormous presence whose tribute to Jimmy made us all realize that Jimmy was a man of Integrity who negotiated with honesty and ethics…reflecting the inner values of a trusted friend and manager.

BIO: 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.

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. 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 allstar 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. Bergey played a key role in the Eagles’ rise from regular losers to top-notch contenders during DIck Vermeil’s first three years as head coach, culminating in the trip to Super Bowl XV. 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. 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.

He retired from professional football in 1981.