Jack Ham Hospitalized Before Penn State-Washington Game
The Penn State Sports Network analyst experienced a medical emergency in Seattle less than an hour before kickoff.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Penn State Sports Network analyst Jack Ham experienced a medical emergency on game day in Seattle and was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center. Steve Jones is calling the Penn State-Washington game solo from the radio booth at Husky Stadium.
Why it matters
Ham is a Penn State program legend, and his sudden absence removes a familiar broadcast voice from the Nittany Lions' radio coverage during a game between two teams with winning records. Penn State announced the medical emergency less than an hour before kickoff, leaving limited time for broadcast changes.
Penn State and Washington entered the matchup at 4-4 and 5-3 respectively, and the broadcast booth was reduced to a single announcer when Ham was hospitalized. Penn State has said it will share updates on Ham's status as they become available.
The players
Jack Ham
Jack Ham is a former Penn State linebacker and Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer who now serves as a Penn State Sports Network analyst and is considered a program legend.
Steve Jones
Steve Jones is a longtime Penn State Sports Network broadcaster who has worked alongside Ham for many seasons and is now calling the game solo from the radio booth.
The details
Penn State Athletics stated that Ham experienced a medical emergency earlier on game day and was transported to the University of Washington Medical Center, where he is being treated. Ham and Jones were seen together at midfield about two hours before kickoff, shortly before the emergency was announced.
Timeline
About two hours before kickoff, Ham exited team buses with Jones and chatted at midfield.
Less than an hour before kickoff, Penn State announced Ham's medical emergency and hospitalization.
In 2023, Ham and Jones called their 300th game together.
Season Trajectory
Ham and Jones called their 300th game together in 2023, making their pairing one of the longest-running in Penn State radio history. Ham's absence leaves Jones as the sole voice for a matchup that carries weight in the Nittany Lions' season.
Listeners following Penn State's radio broadcast will hear Jones calling the game alone for the remainder of the contest. Updates on Ham's status will be released by Penn State as they become available.
The takeaway
Long-running broadcast partnerships can be disrupted without warning, and Penn State fans should follow official team channels for the latest updates on Ham's condition.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Football section for Pennsylvania.
