5 Reasons Why Chuck Bednarik Will Be Remembered

By Jerry Landry

5 Things We'll Remember Chuck Bednarik For

Chuck Bednarik Concrete Charley Philadelphia Eagles passes away — Chuck Bednarik was an all-around Pennsylvania Keystone. Born in Bethlehem, schooled at UPenn, and then starring for the Philadelphia Eagles, Bednarik was Pennsylvania-bred and made Pennsylvania proud. The eight-time Pro-Bowler, two-time NFL champion and all-time Eagle passed away on Saturday at the age of 89. Let’s take this time to quickly look back on what made the fulfilling life of Chuck Bednarik such a fulfilling part of ours.

5. The Chuck Bednarik Award

Chuck Bednarik Award 2014

5. The Chuck Bednarik Award

Chuck Bednarik Award 2014 — You can count on two hands all the players that belong in the upper echelon of both college and pro football. Bednarik was so outstanding as a defensive player with the Penn Quakers that the Maxwell Club created an award in Bednarik’s honor that’s still awarded today.

4. Bednarik Was The Last Two-Way Player In The NFL

Chuck Bednarik Dead At 89 Philadelphia Eagles

4. Bednarik Was The Last Two-Way Player In The NFL

Chuck Bednarik Dead At 89 Philadelphia Eagles — Not only did Bednarik play 14 years of NFL football (1949-62), but the former linebacker/center played on both sides of the ball! Could you imagine any of today’s finely-tuned athletes possessing this kind of durability? And doing it all in the trenches?

3. The Nickname Concrete Charley

Chuck Bednarik Hall of Fame Philadelphia Eagles

3. The Nickname Concrete Charley

Chuck Bednarik Hall of Fame Philadelphia Eagles — They don’t make them like Bednarik anymore and they certainly don’t name them like “Concrete Charley” either. Although NFL linebackers are as fierce as ever, we may never see another linebacker that also takes punishment from the center position. Concrete Charley was just a different breed.

2. Bednarik’s Military Service

Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame 60

2. Bednarik’s Military Service

Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame 60 — In between dominating the gridiron in high school and finishing third in the 1948 Heisman Trophy voting, Bednarik served for what was known as the Army Air Forces and flew 30 missions over Germany during World War II.

1. The Hit On Frank Gifford

Chuck Bednarik Frank Gifford big hit passes away

1. The Hit On Frank Gifford

Chuck Bednarik Frank Gifford big hit passes away — The sound of shoulder on chin is probably still reverberating across America’s Northeast. Although most of us didn’t see this live, many of us have seen the iconic picture. Bednarik standing over Gifford, the Giants’ running back lying supine and inanimate, while Bednarik stands tall, the iron man as full of life as ever.

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