Penn State Hall of Famer Jack Ham is still hospitalized in Seattle, but the latest word is encouraging: he is making “great progress” after a weekend medical emergency.
Ham, 77, was rushed to the University of Washington Medical Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, about an hour or so before Penn State’s 28-25 win over Washington in Husky Stadium. According to Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell, Ham has remained in stable condition since then.
Campbell gave the update during his weekly Tuesday, Nov. 10, press conference and said he had spoken with Ham on both Monday and Tuesday.
“Talked to him a little bit (Monday), talked to him a little bit (Tuesday),” Campbell said. “We got to see him after the game, which was awesome, and he was doing really well.
“You know, again, I think that is great progress. We hopefully get him back here sooner than later.
But I want to just say, from my end, a sincere 'thank you' to so many people who have reached out. Obviously, what Jack and his family mean to Penn State football and on behalf of our program and obviously the athletic department ...
The love, the care that we have gotten on behalf of Jack, we really appreciate it greatly.”
Campbell also spoke about Ham right after the victory over the Huskies, tying the win to the longtime Penn State legend.
“What I was really proud of our football team, and we talked about a little bit before we went out to the game. Just the courage of our kids to play with what Jack Ham means to Penn State football, how that guy played the game, how that guy still to this day serves our football program. It was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family, and our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with him on a full recovery.”
Ham’s place in Penn State and NFL history is long established. He was a consensus All-American linebacker at Penn State, then went 34th overall in the 1971 NFL Draft. He later won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and became known as one of the best linebackers in league history, especially for his pass defense.
He was also named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and made eight straight Pro Bowls.
Beyond his playing career, Ham has spent more than 20 years as a color commentator on Penn State football radio broadcasts alongside Steve Jones.
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