Browns great Bernie Kosar explained that he was “in bad shape” just a few months ago in March amid his battle with liver disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Kosar, 60, was placed on the liver transplant list in late spring, he said in a recent interview with Cleveland Magazine, explaining that his health challenges became severe when he was diagnosed with cirrhosis — the third of four stages of liver failure — about 16 months ago.
In mid-February, Kosar said he was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, by an independent NFL doctor.
“I wish you could have seen me three months ago,’’ Kosar said, recalling a point in March when he looked unrecognizable. “Actually, maybe not, because I looked like death. I felt like death. E. Coli blood poisoning. Heart trouble. And I really thought I needed the liver transplant ASAP. I was in bad shape.’’
Kosar’s condition has improved recently, according to his doctors.
“Liver disease does tend to fluctuate,” Dr. Anthony Post, a hepatologist for University Hospitals who has been treating Kosar, told the publication. “So he’s on that wave thing where it goes up and down. He’s in a good phase right now, but anything bad could happen.”
In 12 NFL seasons for the Browns, Dolphins and Cowboys, Kosar threw for 23,301 yards and 124 touchdowns.
A first-round selection by Cleveland in a supplemental draft in 1985, Kosar led the Browns to the playoffs in his first season.
He went on to earn a Pro Bowl nod in 1988.
Kosar won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 1994 as a backup to Troy Aikman after completing one season with Dallas.
Prior to going pro, Kosar led the Miami Hurricanes to a national championship in 1983, his first season as a starter.
Doctors told Kosar in January that the former quarterback likely needs a new liver.
“Remarkably — you know, he takes a lot of supplements, he’s been exercising and has been on a good diet and is taking the medications that we’ve prescribed him and we’ve been following him pretty closely so — he’s really gotten a lot better,” Post said.
Kosar said he feels good and is remaining positive.
“It’s amazing that you can feel as good as I do despite all this stuff going on. I can see that what I’m doing is making a difference. I strongly believe it will continue. Time will tell,” he said.
