Bill Bergey was a hitter, make no qualms about it.

Number 66 ruled the field as a Middle Linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals.  At 6'3", 245-pounds, his career as a Bengals was cut short, but Bill Bergey will always be considered one of the best defensive players to ever play for the Cincinnati Bengals team.

Bill Bergey was a star player at Arkansas State University It was there that Bergey led the Red Wolves football team in tackles for three season.  He was a first-team College Division All-American in 1968 by the Associated Press and by the American Football Coaches Association.

A standout Cincinnati Bengals Linebacker who was drafted 31st overall in the 1969 NFL Draft, Bergey ruled the Bengals defense for five season.
The Cincinnati Bengals new they had found the foundation for their defense when Bergey went on to win the Sporting NFL Defensive rookie of the year award as a Bengal in 1969.

Bergey’s style of play, and his ability to get where the ball was allowed him to excel as a Cincinnati Bengal. Bill Bergey would go on to play for the Bengals for five seasons with the team.  He started all five season while with the Bengals.

In 1974 Bill Bergey, like other players, attempted to jump to the newly formed World Football League to play for the Orlando football team.  As a result of his attempted move, Bergey was sued by the Cincinnati Bengals in an attempt to bring him back to play for the Bengals.  The Bengals would go on to lose the lawsuit against Bergey so they had no other option but to trade Bergey to the Philadelphia Eagles.

He was eventually traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for two first round draft picks and one second round draft picks.  Bill Bergey went on to lead the Eagles in tackles in his first six seasons.  He set the Philadelphia Eagles record of 234 tackles in 1976.  Bergey was elected to the All-Pro Team in 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1978.

Bill went on to become the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  He signed a four-year deal worth $1 million.  Bill Berger is without a doubt one of the greatest Cincinnati Bengals defensive players of all time.