Jack Ham finally gets to sleep in his own bed. After a week of worry in Seattle, the Steelers Hall of Famer is back home in Pittsburgh.

Steve Jones, Ham’s longtime radio partner at Penn State, shared the news on Saturday’s pregame show. Ham was released from the University of Washington Hospital after a medical emergency on Nov. 7.

The trip home did not go smoothly. Veteran Pennsylvania sports journalist Neil Rudel posted on X that Ham would have been home Friday night, but he was sidetracked by the FAA and flew from Seattle on Saturday.

Rudel passed along the good news with a smile. He wrote that Ham “has been released from University of Washington Hospital and is back at his Pittsburgh home.”

He then added a warm note for the 77-year-old.

“Continued recovery wishes to an all-time PSU/Steeler great,” Rudel wrote.

The update caps a week of steady good news. Jones said earlier that Ham called him on Monday morning, and the veteran broadcaster did not hide his relief.

“There’s no question he’s doing better,” Jones said. He added that Ham “sounds great.”

Penn State coach Matt Campbell gave a similar update on Tuesday. He said Ham was talking and in stable condition.

“Number one, he’s talking. He’s in stable condition,” Campbell said.

There has been no official word on what caused the emergency. The school has also released no details on his diagnosis or his recovery plan.

Ham was in Seattle to call Penn State’s road game against Washington on Saturday, Nov. 7. The emergency happened before kickoff, so he never made it to the broadcast booth. He was taken to the University of Washington Medical Center.

Campbell later called it a “gut-wrenching day for Penn State football.”

Penn State released a short statement that day. It said Ham “experienced a medical emergency earlier today” and “was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center, where he is being treated.”

The school added that it had no further information at that time. Jones stepped in to help. Campbell credited Ham’s play-by-play partner with a “heroic effort” that helped Ham’s outlook. Campbell was clear about how much that mattered.

“If not for Steve and what he did, I don’t know if we would have as good of news as we do right now,” Campbell said.

He also thanked the University of Washington athletic director and emergency team, calling their work “outstanding.” Washington Athletics also posted a message of support for Ham.

Penn State still had a game to play. The Nittany Lions beat Washington 28-25, and Campbell said the win meant something extra that day.

“It was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family,” Campbell said.

After the game, Jones went to the hospital with Campbell and athletic director Pat Kraft to see Ham in person. Jones later said it was easy to see how much better Ham looked in a short amount of time.

Ham’s impact on both programs goes far beyond the field, making his recovery especially meaningful to the fans who have followed him for decades.

Jack Ham’s Incredible Penn State Legacy

Jack Ham grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became a consensus All-American at Penn State in 1970. The Steelers took him in the second round of the 1971 NFL draft, 34th overall.

He then spent 1971 to 1982 as a cornerstone of the Steel Curtain defense in Pittsburgh. Ham won four Super Bowls, earned eight Pro Bowl selections, and made first-team All-Pro six consecutive times (1974-79).

He also finished with 32 interceptions and 21 opponent fumble recoveries. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1988, and the College Football Hall of Fame followed in 1990. He is also on the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team and in the Steelers Hall of Honor.

Since his playing days, Ham has stayed close to Penn State as an analyst on the radio network. Jones has been his partner in the booth since 2000.

For now, the only thing on Ham’s schedule is rest. And Steelers and Penn State fans are eagerly waiting for the next time they hear that familiar voice.