Former Eagles Center Bill Lapham Dies at 82

Rob Goldberg @TheRobGoldbergFeatured ColumnistNovember 14, 2016

Former Philadelphia Eagles players, Bill Lapham (54), Maxie Baughan (55), Chuck Bednarik (60), Jerry Huth (65), John Wilcox (71), Ed Khayat (73), Riley Gunnels (74), Jim McCusker (75) and J.D.Smith (76), participate in a ceremony commemorating the 1960 championship Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Philadelphia, during halftime of an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Mel Evans/Associated Press

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Bill Lapham has died at the age of 82.

The team announced the news Monday on its Twitter account:

Philadelphia Eagles @Eagles
#Eagles are saddened by the loss of Bill Lapham, member of the 1960 NFL Championship team, who passed away last week at the age of 82. https://t.co/CtlLXI47T0

Lapham played one year with the Eagles, which happened to be the team's last championship in 1960. He spent his next season on the Minnesota Vikings before retiring after the 1961 season.

The Iowa native was a 14th-round pick in the 1958 draft out of the University of Iowa. He also spent time at Drake University.

After his run with the Eagles, he was selected by the Vikings in the 1961 expansion draft. While the team went 3-11 that season, Lapham started 13 of his 14 games, blocking for rookie quarterback and eventual Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton.

Rookie Mick Tingelhoff, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, replaced him the next season.

Lapham retired at the age of 27.

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