Penn State football legend and radio analyst Jack Ham is currently in stable condition after experiencing a medical emergency on Saturday. The incident occurred as the 77-year-old was arriving at Husky Stadium in Seattle ahead of Penn State’s game against the University of Washington.
Following the Nittany Lions’ 28-25 victory, head coach Matt Campbell provided an update on Ham’s status and highlighted the actions of longtime broadcast partner Steve Jones. Campbell credited Jones with a “heroic effort” during the emergency. The coach noted that without the quick intervention of Jones, the outcome for the Hall of Fame linebacker could have been significantly worse.
Ham was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center for treatment. While the specific nature of the medical emergency has not been disclosed by the university, Campbell expressed deep gratitude toward the Washington athletic department and their emergency medical team for their rapid response. “They were incredible, they were outstanding,” Campbell said during his postgame press conference.
A standout linebacker for Penn State in the late 1960s, Ham went on to have a legendary 12-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won four Super Bowls and earned eight Pro Bowl selections. He has served as the color commentator for the Penn State Sports Network since 2000, working alongside Jones for over two decades. The pair had called their 300th game together in 2023.
Coach Campbell shared that the team was informed of Ham’s situation prior to kickoff. He spoke about the emotional weight of the day and noted that the team played with the courage and spirit that Ham has long brought to the program. “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 to this day still serves our football program, it was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family,” Campbell added. The university and the football community continue to monitor his recovery.