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Come Fan with UsSunday, June 21, 2026

Joe Paterno’s Health Still In Grave Condition Sunday Morning, According To Reports

Legendary Penn St. Nittany Lions football coach Joe Paterno, 85, remains in troubling condition at a State College hospital, surrounded by family. As of Saturday night, he remained on a ventilator and able to communicate, according to the Patriot-News' Stefanie Loh, but the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins reports the family is now weighing whether to take him off of it.

Both cite sources close to the family. Jenkins’ report is especially noteworthy, as she was the last person to interview the coach before his bout with illness took its latest turn.

Throughout Saturday night, news of Paterno’s failing health spread quickly. Too quickly, at times, as an erroneous report that he’d already passed away was able to make the rounds before sons Jay and Scott took to Twitter to issue denials.

Elsewhere, students have made a memorial of the campus statue in his likeness. Penn State fans at Black Shoe Diaries kept an all-night vigil, perhaps mostly just to keep each other company during an awful time. Late Saturday night, Jay Paterno tweeted the following note:

Jay Paterno@JayPaterno Drove by students at the Joe statue. Just told my Dad about all the love & support--inspiring him.

For more on Paterno, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub.

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