As Bengals president Mike Brown watched his team practice Thursday, it was as if he could see No. 66 out there the day after Bill Bergey died.

“He was the best linebacker we ever had here,” Brown said. “I was really sad when I heard about it. It has an impact on me.”

Bergey, 79, voted by fans as one of the 50 greatest Bengals of all time, died of cancer on Christmas Day.

Bergey was selected in the second round by the Bengals out of Arkansas State in 1969 and went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in the AFL’s final season. When Bergey signed with the upstart World Football League before the 1974 season, the Bengals traded him to the Eagles at a price that showed how much the pros thought of him.

A first-round draft pick in 1977. A first-round and second-round draft pick in 1978.

“It was a good price and he deserved a good price. “He played very well and had some good years with the Eagles,” Brown said. “He had the size and could run. He was a true linebacker. Back when middle linebacker was probably considered the most important position on defense. He was able to impact the running game and participate in the passing game.”

Bergey became an icon in Philadelphia, where he played in four Pro Bowls and helped lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in their final season in 1980. He then became a popular radio announcer for the club. He is also a frequent alumni speaker and a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame.

Bergey also left a great legacy and some of his fondest memories in Cincinnati.

With the first pick in that 1969 draft, the Bengals selected quarterback Greg Cook from the University of Cincinnati and he became the AFL rookie of the year and passing champion despite suffering a career-ending shoulder injury that season finished.

“Greg was our best player on offense and Bill was our best player on defense,” Brown said.

Cook, who died in 2012, also served as best man at Bergey’s wedding in Arkansas. Bergey is survived by the woman he married that day, Mickey, his three sons Jake, Jason and Josh, 10 grandchildren,

“I really enjoyed my five years in Cincinnati. I played (seven) years with the Eagles and remember my days with the Bengals even more,” Bergey told Bengals.com in 2017. “I had just gotten married. I had my first child.” . I had my first paycheck. We were young and hungry.