Eagles
Tim Cairns at the 2013 Philly “Snow Bowl”
“Concrete Charlie” OK After Health Scare
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik was back at home Thursday after being released from a Pennsylvania hospital, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
The 85-year-old Hall of Famer spent more than a week at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa., where he was initially listed in critical condition, after being hospitalized following shortness of breath.
His son-in-law, Ken Safarowic, said that Bednarik was improving steadily after being cleared to leave the hospital late Tuesday.
“There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be back on his feet in a couple of days. He left with a clean bill of health. He was a little anemic and dehydrated,” Safarowic added. “I don’t think it was any one significant issue. A bunch of things just ganged up on him at the same time. The heart and organs weren’t affected. He’s in a good shape otherwise.” Safarowic said that the numerous calls from well-wishers and Bednarik’s former teammates were “overwhelming.”
“We’ve got to hang on to him for a while,” he added. “There are not many guys from that era. Chuck has another game-saving tackle left in him.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler missed just three games in 14 seasons. His No. 60 is one of seven retired numbers in Eagles history. In 1969, he was named the NFL’s all-time center.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. The college football award for the nation’s top defensive player is named for him.
