Chuck Bednarik biography
Chuck Bednarik, byname of Charles Phillip Bednarik, additionally known as Concrete Charlie, (born May 1, 1925, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died March 21, 2015, Richland, Pennsylvania), American skilled gridiron soccer participant who, as a linebacker and centre for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) within the Nineteen Fifties and early ’60s, was the final participant in league historical past to usually take part in each play of an NFL sport. Bednarik received two NFL championships (1949, 1960) with the Eagles.
An unexceptional soccer participant in highschool, Bednarik enlisted within the U.S. Army Air Forces to struggle in World War II quickly after his commencement. As a waist gunner, he participated in 30 missions over Europe. Upon his return to the United States in 1945, Bednarik enrolled on the University of Pennsylvania and joined the soccer workforce. Blossoming shortly as a participant, he earned consensus All-American honours at centre in his junior and senior seasons and in 1948 grew to become the primary offensive lineman to win the Maxwell Award as faculty soccer’s most excellent participant. He was chosen by the Eagles with the primary general choose of the 1949 NFL draft.
After watching the primary two video games of his rookie season from the bench, Bednarik started a streak of “iron man” play that noticed him miss only one extra sport over the rest of his 14 seasons within the league. Bednarik was a standout on each side of the ball—incomes All-Pro honours at each centre and linebacker over the course of his profession—however he grew to become most well-known for his hard-hitting performs on protection. Two of his tackles, each of which befell in 1960, have transcended the others to change into a part of NFL lore. In a November sport in opposition to the New York Giants, Bednarik tackled star operating again Frank Gifford so ferociously that Gifford was unable to return to the game till 1962. A well-recognized {photograph} taken quickly after the deal with reveals Bednarik celebrating over a susceptible Gifford, a gesture that was perceived by some as merciless taunting however that was in reality a response to not Gifford’s harm however to the fumble attributable to the hit that sealed the win for Philadelphia. Bednarik’s different memorable deal with got here within the 1960 NFL championship: with the Eagles holding a 17–13 lead over the Green Bay Packers within the closing seconds of the sport, Bednarik alone stood between the top zone and Jim Taylor because the Packer fullback rumbled throughout the Eagles’ 10-yard-line solely to be introduced down by Bednarik, who remained on prime of Taylor till time ran out to clinch the championship for Philadelphia.
Bednarik retired after the 1962 season. He was named to eight profession Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.