Former Eagle Great Tom Brookshier Dies

Former Eagle Great Tom Brookshier Dies

Posted: Saturday, 30 January 2010 11:51AM

by KYW's Peter Jaroff and Pat Toddy

One of the most popular players ever to wear a Philadelphia Eagles uniform -- Tom Brookshier -- has died.

According to a spokesperson for the Eagles, Brookshier died Friday night at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer.

The former football star was a defensive back for the Eagles from 1953 to 1961 and made the Pro Bowl twice. The Eagles retired his number "40" in 1962.

After his football career, Brookshier became an award-winning broadcaster, doing color for CBS football broadcasts and teaming up with Pat Summerall for the telecasts of three Super Bowl games. Veteran broadcaster Bill Campbell says both men made the transition with ease:

"As far as players who made the jump, they were as good as anybody, no doubt about it. They made the accession into our business as seamlessly and as easy going as possible. They were backed up by the firm knowledge they had and they did a really good job."

Brookshier also worked for KYW Newsradio's sister station, WIP. Broadcaster Angelo Cataldi remembers his friend and colleague:

"I learned a lot of his methods in the two years I worked with him. This is a guy who already had his number retired with the Eagles. He’d come in an hour, an hour and a half before a show, do tons and tons of prep work, help to set up guests. His work ethic was phenomenal.""

Cataldi says there were two sides to 'Brookie' - a very warm, gregarious public personality and a quiet reserved private side.

No word on funeral arrangements.