Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar has shared encouraging news after undergoing a liver transplant surgery.
The former University of Miami quarterback and Browns star spoke from his hospital bed to communicate his health status.
Kosar revealed to Cleveland Magazine last year that he had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease. The Youngstown, Ohio native recalled that for years he felt bothered by liver-related problems, but ignored them because he wasn’t sure of the source. A diagnosis of cirrhosis in late 2023 confirmed the specificity and severity of his condition. Kosar played in the NFL for 12 seasons after leading the University of Miami to its first national championship during the 1983 season. He grew up cheering for the Browns, who selected him in the 1985 NFL supplemental draft. Kosar played for the Browns from 1985 to 1993, leading the franchise to three AFC Championship appearances (1986, ’87, and ’89), losing each time to the Denver Broncos. Kosar ranks third in franchise history with 21,904 passing yards. After being released by the Browns, Kosar joined the Dallas Cowboys for the remainder of the 1993 season and earned a Super Bowl ring. He then played for the Miami Dolphins from 1994 to 1996.Bernie is my man. I know this city has such a special relationship with Bernie from his playing days and then the impact he has had on this community over all these years. I didn’t have that experience with Bernie before coming here, but since I’ve been here, he’s been a very supportive person for me, so kind to my family. I think he sees my family every game day and is so good with them. So he’s a special person. He’s a special Cleveland Brown, and we’re all supporting him and we’re all there with him at this moment.
Kevin Stefanski, Browns coach
