Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar has revealed he has Parkinson’s Disease and now needs a liver transplant.
Kosar made the announcement in an interview with Cleveland Magazine.
Kosar, 60, said he was diagnosed by an independent NFL doctor in February.
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.
In 2023, Kosar told Fox News he suffered more than 100 concussions during his career and also has had 15 seizures.
Kosar said he felt ill in late December before the Browns’ home game against the Jets.
“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.’’’
Kosar, a native of Youngstown, was the No. 1 overall selection by the Browns in the 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft.
He starred for Cleveland for nine seasons was 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 at 21,904.
