Eagles Hall of Famer Bill Bergey has died at age 79 after a long health battle.

Former NFL linebacker Bill Bergey has died. He was 79, his son announced on Christmas Day.

Bergey, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1974-1980, has been battling cancer in recent years. His son, Jake Bergey, said his father was “Wonderful person”

The South Dayton, New York, native’s professional football career began in the late 1960s when he played for the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles stretches while warming up for a Redskins game at RFK Stadium on September 9, 10, 1978 in Washington, DC. (Emphasis on Sports Images/Getty Images)

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“After 3 years of hard fighting, Dad lost the battle against Cancer. The best father, friend, grandfather, football player and the greatest person in this world. I will really miss him. Love you Dad.” Jake wrote On X, formerly known as Twitter

Burgey recorded nearly 1,200 tackles during his outstanding tenure with the Eagles. He earned Pro Bowl honors four times during his time in Philly. Bergey won his first Pro Bowl of his career in 1969 when he was with the Bengals.

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The former linebacker was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1988. He received the honor again in 2011 when he became a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles is on the sideline during a preseason game against the Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 9, 2, 1977 in Pittsburgh. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)

In 2023, Bergey shared some details about his relationship with Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly. The former Bills quarterback battled jaw cancer and became one of Bergey’s trusted confidants.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bill Burgey kneels over Oakland Raiders wide receiver Raymond Chester during the Super Bowl. 15 at the Superdome in New Orleans on January 1, 25, 1981. (Manny Rubio-USA Today Sports)

“He’s my inspiration,” Bergey told the Eagles’ official website last year. “He helped me up and down. ‘Remember this,’ he would say, ‘You’re a football player, you’re strong, and you can overcome this. You can handle this.’”

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Burgey played college football at Arkansas State. After his retirement from the NFL, Burgey spent several years contributing to the Eagles’ pre- and post-game coverage.

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