Former Bengals, NFL players visit Hamilton hospital

Retired NFL players visited Kettering Health Hamilton on Eaton Avenue on the city's west side to visit with staff and patients on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, and sign some autographs. Posing with a hospital staff member are former Bengal Robert Jackson, former Bengal Jim Breech, former Bengal Louis Breeden, and former San Francisco 49er David Wilkins. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/KETTERING HEALTH

Credit: Contributed/Kettering Health

Credit: Contributed/Kettering Health

Retired NFL players visited Kettering Health Hamilton on Eaton Avenue on the city's west side to visit with staff and patients on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, and sign some autographs. Posing with a hospital staff member are former Bengal Robert Jackson, former Bengal Jim Breech, former Bengal Louis Breeden, and former San Francisco 49er David Wilkins. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/KETTERING HEALTH

Three former Bengals and a former 49ers defensive end visited Kettering Health Hamilton last week to sign autographs and offer encouragement to the staff and patients.

This is the third time since July 2023 that the Hamilton community hospital brought in people affiliated with the Bengals to visit patients and staff. On Friday, former Bengals Jim Breech, Louis Breeden and Robert Jackson were on the hospital’s campus, as well as former San Francisco 49er David Wilkens.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor visited Kettering Health Hamilton patients and staff in the hospital’s Cancer Center. The visit was part of an advertising campaign for the hospital system. Bengals offensive lineman Ted Karras came to Hamilton this past December visiting cancer patients receiving infusion, new parents with their babies, and patients in Kettering Health Hamilton’s inpatient rehab.

“These NFL legends brightened our day,” said Paul Hoover, president of Kettering Health Hamilton. “Their visit brought smiles and laughter to patients and staff, reminding us of the power of kindness and community in healing. We’re deeply grateful for the players’ support and the positive energy they brought to Kettering Health Hamilton.”

Breech was one of the Bengals’ more prolific placekickers, having played for the team from 1980 to 1992, and was named to the team’s Cincinnati Bengals 50th Anniversary Team. Breeden played with the Bengals from 1978 (he was injured for the 1977 season) until 1987. Jackson played for the Bengals from 1982 to 1987, and then again for the 1989 season.

Wilkins, a Cincinnati native, played the 1992 season for San Francisco in the NFL and a season in the Canadian Football League.

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