SEATTLE − Legendary Penn State football player and longtime radio broadcaster Jack Ham was in stable condition in the University of Washington Medical Center Saturday evening, Nov. 7, according to university officials, after undergoing a medical emergency here before the Nittany Lions‘ game.
After the game, head coach Matt Campbell began his press conference by addressing Ham − and the apparent efforts to help him to safety and a hopeful recovery from his an undisclosed medical situation. Campbell singled out longtime radio partner and play-by-play announcer Steve Jones, who apparently was by Ham’s side when he fell ill.
Oct 13, 2018; University Park, PA, USA; Former Penn State Nittany Lions players Franco Harris (left) and Jack Ham (right) greet fans prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
“Everybody knows that man, this was a gut-wrenching day for Penn State football with Jack Ham,” Campbell said. “Obviously, a really tough situation as we got off the buses here (at the stadium).
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“First of all, I think we should all know Steve Jones and the heroic effort that he did for somebody he loves dearly. And if it’s not for Steve, you know, and what he did, I don’t know if we would have as good a news as we do right now. And then I want to also thank the University of Washington, their athletic director, their emergency team were incredible. They were outstanding. I think, hopefully, as all of you know, Jack is in stable condition right now, and obviously, the emotion of that.”
Penn State went on to play their best first half of football of the season in leading the Huskies 28-6 at halftime − before holding off a second-half surge and desperately hanging on.
“What I was really proud of our football team, and we talked about a little bit before we went out to the game,” Campbell said. “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.”
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Carson Hansen (21) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Carson Hansen (21) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Carson Hansen (21) breaks a tackle attempt by Washington Huskies safety Rylon Dillard-Allen (4) to rush for a touchdown during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks to pass against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jayden Limar (17) rushes past a tackle attempt by Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jamison Patton (3) during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kooper Ebel (8) reacts following a tackle against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kooper Ebel (8) tackles Washington Huskies tight end Decker DeGraaf (86) during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (1) looks to pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell observes pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell shakes hands with Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daryus Dixson (5) during pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell observes pregame warmups against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
(Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Penn State officials were not disclosing the nature of Ham’s medical issue or any further details yet on his condition.
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The Johnstown, Pa. native has worked for more than two decades with Jones, the pair calling their 300th game in 2023.
Ham was a consensus All-American linebacker at Penn State and the 34th player taken in the 1971 NFL Draft. He would go on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and would be regarded as one of the best linebackers in NFL history with a particular supremacy as a pass defender.
Ham was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and made eight straight Pro Bowls.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
