Football
Bert Bell’s Last Game Brought His Philadelphia Football Life Full Circle
Late in the Eagles’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 11, 1959, a Philadelphia crowd had reason to watch the field. Norm Van Brocklin’s touchdown pass to Tommy McDonald helped the Eagles pull ahead in a game they would win 28–24. Elsewhere in Franklin Field, an emergency was unfolding. Bert Bell, the NFL commissioner, had collapsed in the stands.