National Football League

Hall of Famer Bednarik hospitalized

Published Mar. 24, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Philadelphia Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik was admitted to a hospital for tests this week, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Thursday.

Bednarik's son-in-law, Ken Safarowic, downplayed the seriousness of the situation, denying Wednesday's rumors that the Hall of Fame linebacker had suffered a heart attack and was on life support.

Safarowic said his father-in-law was rushed to a Lehigh Valley hospital Tuesday after experiencing shortness of breath and a drop in blood pressure, and feeling faint. But he said the 85-year-old Bednarik is conscious, communicating and is "as feisty as ever."

Safarowic said doctors were still performing tests and had not yet arrived at a diagnosis, but told him that Bednarik's heart is OK.

"He is about as healthy as you can be at this stage," Safarowic said, adding that he expects Bednarik to be released from the hospital within the next day or so.

"He's going to cold-cock someone if they don't let him out soon ... He was angry that he could not go to Mass today. Lying around at this stage of the game does not agree with him."

Bednarik was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 after playing on two title-winning teams during his career with the Eagles from 1946-62.

The Pennsylvania native is best known for his crushing hit on Giants running back Frank Gifford in 1960, which knocked Gifford out of football for more than a year and ultimately cut short his Hall of Fame career.

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