He’s considered by many to be the best quarterback in Cleveland Browns history. Now the beloved Bernie Kosar is facing a greater challenge than anything he saw on the gridiron.
According to an article published in Cleveland Magazine, the 60-year-old former Pro Bowler has reportedly been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is suffering from liver failure enough that he will likely require a liver transplant.
And to make matters worse, a member of Kosar’s medical team said there is more than a 90% chance he will need a new liver.
Kosar reportedly said he has been dealing with health issues connected to his liver for years, but ignored the pain until he was diagnosed with cirrhosis 16 months ago. In an excerpt in Cleveland Magazine, Kosar recalled watching a Browns game against the New York Jets on Dec. 28 when his symptoms became particularly bad that lead to him being hospitalized:
“My body gave out on me,’’ he says. “I really felt like I wasn’t going to make it home from the Jets game. I sucked it up, though, and continued to avoid the doctors until the new year. Then I went into the hospital and got a massive blood transfusion. It was like: ‘How are you alive? How are you moving? Because your hemoglobin levels are so low.’’’
He reportedly became seriously ill again when traveling to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, leading to a hospital stay of several days after his flight.
According to Dr. Michael Roizen of the Cleveland Clinic, the cause of Kosar’s liver failure has not been determined. His liver reportedly contains “an incredibly high level of an organic solvent, higher than we’ve seen literally in anyone.’’
“This compound doesn’t live in humans for 24 hours. But it’s lived in him for probably 10 years, and we don’t know why.’’
Kosar remains beloved in Cleveland, having starred for nine seasons with the Browns. He led them to the playoffs in five straight seasons, a franchise record in the Super Bowl era, and he remains close to the top of the franchise leaderboard in nearly every meaningful passing statistic.
He also boasts a Super Bowl ring from his time as a backup on the Dallas Cowboys in 1994 and a champion in the college ranks with Miami in 1983.