CLEVELAND — Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar said in an extensive interview with Cleveland Magazine that he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and needs a liver transplant
The 60-year-old says he received this diagnosis by an independent NFL doctor in February, where he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Kosar said one of his doctors — Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer of Cleveland Clinic — told him he has more than a 90% chance of needing a new liver, and will eventually need surgery.
Kosar said in an interview last year with Fox News that he suffered more than 100 concussions during his playing career and also has endured 15 seizures.
Months before his diagnosis, Kosar says he felt ill back in late December before the Browns’ home game against the Jets. The win clinched the Browns’ berth in the playoffs, but Kosar wasn’t feeling well during his time at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
“My body gave out on me,” Kosar told Cleveland Magazine. “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.”’
The Youngstown native was the No. 1 overall selection by the Browns in the 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft. He starred for Cleveland for nine seasons, became a Pro Bowler and took the Browns to four playoff appearances and three AFC championship games. He ranks third in franchise history in career passing yards (21,904).
