Former Bengals, Eagles LB Bill Bergey dies after three-year cancer battle

Former Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey has died after a three-year battle with cancer, his son, Jake, announced on social media. Bergey was 79.

“The best father, friend, grandfather, football player and outright great person in this world. I will truly miss him. Love you, dad,” Jake wrote.

Bergey was a second-round pick of the Bengals in 1969 and earned AFL defensive rookie of the year honors and Pro Bowl honors. He spent five seasons in Cincinnati.

He joined the Eagles and earned four Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro honors and was second-team All-Pro three other times. Bergey had five interceptions and 3.5 sacks in his best season of 1974, narrowly losing defensive player of the year to Pittsburgh’s Mean Joe Greene.

The 1980 Eagles played in the Super Bowl in Bergey’s final NFL season.

He ended his career with 27 interceptions, 18.5 sacks and 21 fumble recoveries.

Bergey later served as an analyst on the Eagles Radio Network.