Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar has revealed that he is battling multiple medical issues, including liver failure and Parkinson’s disease.
The 60-year-old, who played for the Cleveland Browns, has spoken out about his health issues, saying he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease by an “independent NFL doctor” in February before he was placed on a liver transplant list in late spring.
He said Cleveland Magazine that his body “gave out” during an appearance with the Browns in their Dec. 28 matchup against the New York Jets.
“I really felt like I wasn’t going to make it home after the Jets game,” Kosar said. “But I stuck it out and continued to avoid doctors until the new year. Then I went to the hospital and had a massive blood transfusion.
“I asked myself, ‘How are you alive? How are you moving? Because your hemoglobin levels are very low.'”
Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar has revealed that he is battling multiple medical issues.
Doctors told Kosar in January that he likely needed a new liver before he became ill again in February.
While attending Super Bowl festivities in Las Vegas, the former quarterback’s condition worsened and he had to spend several days in the hospital.
His health continued to deteriorate until March, and Kosar said he “looked dead.”
“I wish you had seen me three months ago,” Kosar says. “Actually, maybe not, because I looked dead. I felt dead. E. coli blood poisoning. Heart problems. And I really thought I needed a liver transplant ASAP. I was in really bad shape.”
But his doctor, Anthony Post, offered fans some optimistic news, saying the former Super Bowl winner is on the mend.
“Liver disease tends to fluctuate,” Post says. “So it’s kind of on a wave where it goes up and down. It’s in a good phase right now, but anything bad could happen.”
His doctors said the cause of Kosar’s liver failure has not been determined, but that his liver contains “an incredibly high level of organic solvent, higher than we’ve seen in literally anyone.”
Despite being long retired, Kosar makes regular appearances at NFL Super Bowl games and festivities.
Kosar was selected by the Browns with the first overall pick in the 1985 supplemental draft.
Despite being long retired, Kosar makes regular appearances in the NFL. Pictured during the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Last October, Kosar added to the NFL-pop culture crossover when he was photographed with Taylor Swift before the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Las Vegas Chargers at Arrowhead.
Swift, the girlfriend of Chiefs star Travis Kelce, and Kosar attended a pregame gathering at the tight end’s home before heading to the stadium to watch Kansas City’s victory.
Swift posed for a photo alongside Kosar just hours before the game, which marked her third appearance at Arrowhead to watch Kelce in action for Kansas City. She was then seen appearing at Arrowhead shortly before tipoff on Sunday afternoon.
Kosar, best known for his eight-year stint with the Cleveland Browns, captioned the photo with X: “Watching the Browns game with @taylorswift13 before the Kansas City game. Hard to see Deshaun hurt!!!”
Kosar retired from the NFL in 1996 and long struggled with injuries stemming from his playing days, particularly head and brain problems.
Kosar is photographed with pop star Taylor Swift before a 2023 Chargers-Chiefs game
Swift, Travis Kelce’s girlfriend, and Kosar enjoyed lunch at the tight end’s home in Missouri.
The quarterback finished his NFL career with one season with the Dolphins. He is pictured here with Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown at a Miami game in 2016.
Over the course of his NFL career, Kosar says he suffered 80 broken bones, 40 surgeries, numerous seizures and countless concussions.
Kosar was selected by the Browns with the first overall pick in the 1985 supplemental draft after starring for the University of Miami.
He then led Cleveland to three AFC Championship appearances before then-Browns coach Bill Belichick cut him.
Kosar moved to Dallas, where he won a Super Bowl title as backup quarterback for the 1993 Cowboys team.
He completed his career with one season in Miami with the Dolphins from 1994 to 1996 before finally hanging up his cleats. He passed for 23,301 yards and threw 124 touchdown passes throughout his career.