Penn State Hall of Famer Jack Ham is still hospitalized in Seattle, but the latest word is encouraging.
During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Penn State head coach Matt Campbell said the 77-year-old Ham is making “great progress” after a medical emergency that sent him to the University of Washington Medical Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, shortly before the Nittany Lions’ 28-25 win over Washington in Husky Stadium.
“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 win over the Huskies, tying the team’s performance to the longtime Penn State figure.
“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 has been a fixture around Penn State football for decades. A consensus All-American linebacker at Penn State, he was the 34th player selected in the 1971 NFL Draft before going on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1975 and made eight straight Pro Bowls.
Beyond his playing career, Ham has spent more than 20 years working Penn State football broadcasts as a color commentator alongside Steve Jones.
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