Concrete Charley was known as one of the hardest hitting tacklers the game has ever seen.
It’s a sad day to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan. One of NFL’s all time greatest football players has passed away earlier today. Hall Of Fame Linebacker/Center Chuck Bednarik died early this morning in his home at the age of 89. Chuck’s influence on the gridiron has been a legendary one as he was able to become one of the pioneers of elevating the way linebackers should play the position. Aggressive, energetic and hard hitting, Bednarik was a offensive player’s worse nightmare on the field, making running backs do some serious second guessing if they should run towards his direction. Hard hitting Chuck’s most famous career moments came in the 1960 NFL season. In the Eagles matchup against the New York Giants, running back Frank Gifford was hit so hard that he missed the rest of the season and the entire 1961 season due to a concussion. His other moment that made Bednarik a superstar in the league was his championship wining tackle he made on Green Bay Packer‘s Jim Taylor at the end zone during the final seconds of a 17-13 win.
The Pennsylvania great was a natural on and off the field. Registered in the US Army Air Force where he served as a B-24 waist gunner, Chuck was a relentless human being who love to be apart of the action. After serving his duties, he went on to play college football at the University of Penn, where he was the 60th man on the roster. At UPENN, he was a 3-time All American, finishing third for the Heisman trophy running and was able to win the 1948 Maxwell award as college football’s player of the year. After a success collegiate career, Chuck became the first overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft after he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik had a illustrious, legendary 13 year career, reeling in numerous of awards, honors while become a real outspoken individual off the field. While putting on the intimidating #60 jersey, Chuck became an 8 time Pro Bowl selectee, 10 time All Pro member, while bringing in 2 NFL championships to his hometown team. Along with winning the 1953 Pro Bowl MVP award, Chuck became a all time favorite as writers voted him onto the NFL 50th & 75th Anniversary All Time Team. In addition, the Eagles was able to pay homage to the great by retiring his jersey and inducted him into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1987.
Bednarik’s significance to the game of football has been a major one in ways that football ethusiastists are truly grateful to have discovered. His intensity, tenacious play on the field has been so powerful and moving that a major college football award has been named in his honor. Every college football season, writers and coaches meet up to vote on the Chuck Bednarik award as the nation’s top collegiate defensive player. A yearly tradition that began in 1995, the past winners have gone on to have amazing careers in the NFL. NFL greats such as Charles Woodson, Julius Peppers, LaVar Arrington, Patrick Peterson and Ndamukong Suh has received the prestigious honor. As the football gods introduce the great Chuck Bednarik into their gates of football immortals, the sports world will just like to say thank you Chuck for changing the way the linebacker position is being played. Without you, we wouldn’t see offensive players get laid out seeing stars on the CBS or the NFL network. Rest In Peace Chuck. You will forever be missed.
Omari White
Prayers goes out to the Bednarik family as this sudden news have shocked many sports fans such as myself. To help take your mind off of disappointing news, tune into CBS, TNT, TBS & TruTV as March Madness is here to create some amazing sports moments. When Omari is not lighting it up from 3 point land and your local gym, he is on twitter scoffing about life, music and sports. Go follow him @SmooveGuyO and check his timeline out as he is tuning in to see what teams will be dancing on to the next round and who will fall victim to the cinderella teams.
