Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is facing some severe heart obstacles.
Per Cleveland Magazine, Kosar was placed on a liver transplant earlier this year. While the 60-year-old has made recent improvements, his doctor said there’s “more than a 90% chance” he’ll need a new liver.
Kosar was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in February.
NFL fans sent their well-wishes to Kosar as he battles those major health issues.
“Prayers to a Cleveland Legend,” a fan wrote.
“Such a hero to Cleveland kids growing up in the ’80s, a great athlete that WANTED to play in Cleveland,” Bill Shea said. “He’s why I always wore 19 in sports.”
“Get well soon,” Ryan Louis wrote.
“Terrible news. One of my idols growing up,” a fan said. “I hope he gets this transplant! Loved him when he did preseason games for the Browns. Dude was as cerebral as it gets on the field.”
Kosar said he’d endured health issues related to his liver for years, but he began to realize the severity following a cirrhosis diagnosis in early 2023. He was hospitalized before he could attend this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
Although he “felt like death” months ago, Kosar’s condition has improved. Kosar credited supplements and a strict diet and remains optimistic despite his difficult situation.
“I strongly believe in the power of positive thinking,” Kosar said. “For me, it’s not just a slogan. I believe that positive energy can be manifested in our brains, and I love to live in the space of positivity. I want to think about things that are helpful. It sounds like I’m getting on a soap box here, but I visualize good health. It’s not so much that I’m trying to sell it to myself, or that I’m in denial, as it is choosing to be positive. Because everybody’s got something. We’ve all got health issues to some degree, we all have bumps in the road.”
Related: Former Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease