Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia Eagles

"If I could relive my life it would be in those times. The Eagle teams I played on were like family, particularly that 1960 championship team.”

No National Football League player in the 1950s was immune to bone-jarring contact with the Philadelphia Eagles' Chuck Bednarik because the 233-pounder played on both the offensive and defensive units long after the two-way player had largely faded from the scene.

Bednarik didn’t really get into football until he returned from World War II (after a 30-mission tour as a B-24 waist gunner with the Army Air Corps that saw him win the Air Medal). He showed up unheralded at the University of Pennsylvania, where he went on to win All-America honors as a center his last two seasons.

Chuck was selected first overall in the 1949 NFL Draft as the Eagles' bonus draft choice and earned a starter’s spot as a center on offense and linebacker on defense. As an offensive center, big Chuck was a bulldozing blocker, both on rushing and passing plays. On defense, he was a true scientist in his field and the kind of tackler who could literally stop even the finest enemy runners "on a dime."

In 1950, Bednarik received All-NFL recognition as a center. Although he frequently played both offense and defense right up through the 1956 season, it was as a bone-jarring linebacker that he drew the most attention. He was named All-NFL as a linebacker 1951 through 1957 and again in 1960.

His athletic abilities and inspirational play was particularly evident in 1960 when injuries forced the Eagles to ask their 12-year veteran to again play both sides of the line. The 35-year-old was sensational. He finished the campaign with a 58-minute performance, capped by a game-saving tackle in the Eagles' NFL championship victory over Green Bay. With just seconds remaining, the Packers' Jim Taylor appeared to be heading for a winning touchdown until the last Eagle in his path, Bednarik, bear-hugged him to the ground as time ran out.

Chuck Bednarik's Stats

Chuck Bednarik's Championship Games

Championship Games

1949 NFL – Philadelphia Eagles 14, Los Angeles Rams 0
Bednarik played in this game. No other statistical data is available.

1960 NFL – Philadelphia Eagles 17, Green Bay Packers 13
Bednarik started the game at center. No other statistical data is available.

Chuck Bednarik's Career Highlights

All-NFL: 1950 (APC, NY^LB), 1951 ^LB (AP, UPI, NY), 1952 ^LB (AP, UPI), 1953 ^LB (AP, NY), 1954 ^LB (AP, UPI, SN, NY), 1955 ^LB (UPI, NE), 1956 ^LB (UPI, NEA, NY), 1957 ^LB (NY), 1960 ^LB (AP, UPI, NY)

All-NFL Second Team: 1953 ^LB (UPI), 1955 ^LB (AP, NY), 1956 ^LB (AP), 1957 ^LB (AP, UPI, NEA), 1960C (NY), 1961 ^C (UPI)

All-Eastern Conference: 1954 ^LB (PB), 1957 ^LB (SN), 1960 ^LB (SN), 1961 ^LB (SN)

(8) – 1951 ^C, 1952 ^C, 1953 ^C, 1954 ^{C, LB}, 1955 ^C, 1957 ^LB, 1958 ^LB, 1961 ^LB

(at time of his retirement following 1962 season)

• [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons – 14

• 1950s All-Decade Team ^C
• NFL 50th Anniversary Team ^C
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Two-Way Team

Chuck Bednarik's Career Capsule

Full Name: Charles Philip Bednarik

Birthdate: May 1, 1925

Birthplace: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

High School: Bethlehem (PA) Catholic; Liberty (Bethlehem, PA)

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 5, 1967

Presenter: Earle "Greasy" Neale, Bednarik's coach with the Eagles

Other Members of Class of 1967: Charles Bidwill, Paul Brown, Bobby Layne, Dan Reeves, Ken Strong, Joe Stydahar, Emlen Tunnell

Pro Career: 14 Seasons, 169 games

Drafted: 1st round (1st player overall) in 1949 by Philadelphia Eagles

Uniform Number: 60

Chuck Bednarik Enshrinement speech

Pro Football Hall of Fame
August 5, 1967

Earle “Greasy” Neale (presenter):

Chuck Bednarik