NFL football players from the Lehigh Valley are very rare. However, one of the few local pros lived in Coopersburg until he passed away recently. Chuck Bednarik, a former Philadelphia Eagles player, died at the age of 89 on March 21, 2015. His legacy impacted many fans, one of whom is a sophomore at Southern Lehigh High School.

“My dad first told me that there was a Philadelphia Eagle and a Pro Football Hall of Fame player that lived about a mile or two from me in Coopersburg,” sophomore Gary Popowitz said. “I was thrilled! My dad then found out that he would be at a signing nearby so we went, and I was able to get his autograph and talk to him a little.”

Chuck Bednarik was a Slovak-American who played his high school football days at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. Bednarik was not just about football; he was all for the country he lived in. Following his high school graduation, Bednarik entered into the United States Army Air Forces where he served as a B-24 waist gunner in the Eighth Air Force during World War II.

After his time in the army, Bednarik continued his football career at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He played center and linebacker and punted on occasion. A three-time All-American, he was then elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and won the Maxwell Award in 1948.

Bednarik’s next destination in his football career was just a little more south of UPenn. He was the number one pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1949 NFL Draft. In his time with the Eagles, he was an eight-time Pro Bowl Selection, a Pro Bowl MVP in 1953, a ten-time All-Pro selection, and a two-time NFL Champion in 1949 and 1960.

Chuck Bednarik retired following the 1962 season. He was the last two-way player in the NFL, playing both center and linebacker for the Eagles. Bednarik was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the class of 1967 and the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1987. Reserving his legacy, his jersey number 60 was retired within the franchise. Adding to his many honors, Bednarik also was named a member of the NFL 50th and 75th anniversary teams and the NFL 1950’s All-Decade team.

When Popowitz met Bednarik, he said he was energetic and full of happiness. Popowitz thinks that is very neat to know that one of the greatest football players lived so close to him. A football player himself, Popowitz likes to base his game after one of the greatest.

“He was one of the toughest players to play the game,” Popowitz said. “His work mentality was strong because he excelled on both offense and defense, and that is who I try to be like when I am on the football field.”

The highlight of Popowitz’s and Bednarik’s relationship came last fall during the football season. Popowitz’s family threw a surprise 16th birthday party for him after a Sunday morning football practice. Family and friends, and current and former teammates of Popowitz came to celebrate his birthday. But a very special guest — Chuck Bednarik — was also in attendance.

“It was pretty awesome that a Hall of Famer was in my presence once again. It was neat that he took time out of his busy schedule to come to my birthday party,” Popowitz said. “I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life.”

The football team, friends and family of Popowitz came together for a picture with Bednarik. But that was the last time the Southern Lehigh student really spent time with the legend. Bednarik passed away on March 21, 2015, after becoming ill the previous day. According to someone in the Bednarik family, he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

“I will remember him not just as an amazing World War II veteran who loved his country and who also loved football,” Popowitz said, “but, I will remember him for playing football not for money but for the passion of the game.”

Popowitz hopes to see the Philadelphia Eagles hold a moment of silence for Bednarik during the first game of the upcoming season. He also hopes to see the Eagles make a big statue to put in front of Lincoln Financial Field to remember the local legend of the Lehigh Valley.