Chuck Bednarik, Eagles icon of toughness, has died at age 89

One of the toughest players of the NFL's generation of yore, Chuck Bednarik, has died. He was 89.

The former Philadelphia Eagles great and Pro Football Hall of Famer died Saturday morning following a brief illness at an assisted living facility in Richland, Pa., according to the team's official website.

The iconic two-way player, who played both center and linebacker at 233 pounds for the Eagles from 1949-62, helped define a generation.

"With the passing of Chuck Bednarik, the Eagles and our fans have lost a legend," Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. "Philadelphia fans grow up expecting toughness, all-out effort and a workmanlike attitude from this team and so much of that image has its roots in the way Chuck played the game.

"He was a Hall of Famer, a champion and an all-time Eagle. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this time."

One of the league's last true iron men, often playing all 60 minutes of a game, Bednarik came from humble roots — the son of a Slovakian immigrant steelworker — and served a tour in World War II that helped forge a toughness in his game. He helped make an instant impact to his team by leading the Eagles to a championship as a rookie in 1949.

"Concrete Charlie," as he was known, split time over the next several years between the two positions as two-way players became more of a dying breed in the NFL. But when injuries forced Bednarik, then 35 years old, back into a dual role in 1960, it might have been his finest hour.

One of the most indelible images of that generation came from the 1960 season when in November of that year, Bednarik delivered one of the hardest hits the game had ever seen — a blow that almost ended the career of fellow Hall of Famer Frank Gifford. Bednarik standing over Gifford, who was lying in a heap, came to be known simply as "The Tackle" or "The Hit" to some.

To cap off that season, Bednarik led his Eagles to another title in 1960 in one of the greatest finishes in championship game history. Playing 58.5 of the 60 minutes, Bednarik ended the game by tackling Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor at the 10-yard line and screaming "This [expletive] game is over!"

It was the last time the Eagles won a championship.

Bednarik played another two seasons for the team and holds franchise records for most Pro Bowl appearances (eight) and seasons with the team (14). He played in 169 regular-season games, was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and had his No. 60 retired by the team in 1987. Bednarik also was a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 1950s All-Decade Team.

There will never be another Chuck Bednarik in the NFL.