Former Cleveland Browns and University of Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar has successfully undergone a liver transplant, more than a year after being placed on the waiting list. The 61-year-old shared a brief video on social media following the surgery, stating, “Hey, I’m out and I’m feeling good. Just ready to enjoy the rest of the week and the rest of our lives.”
Kosar had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease, as he revealed to Cleveland Magazine last year. He had experienced liver-related issues for years but only confirmed the severity in late 2023. He was placed on the transplant waiting list last July. His surgery was initially scheduled for the previous weekend but was delayed due to an infection in the donor organ. In the week leading up to the transplant, Kosar underwent five procedures to stop internal bleeding.
Kosar played 12 seasons in the NFL, leading the University of Miami to its first national championship in 1983. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, supporting the Browns, who selected him in the 1985 supplemental draft. He played for Cleveland from 1985 to 1993, guiding the team to three AFC championship game appearances, all of which ended in losses to the Denver Broncos. He ranks third in franchise history with 21,904 passing yards.
After leaving the Browns, Kosar joined the Dallas Cowboys for the remainder of the 1993 season, earning a Super Bowl ring. He later played for the Miami Dolphins from 1994 to 1996. The Browns paid tribute to Kosar with a video before their game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said he texted with Kosar that evening, adding, “Bernie’s my guy. … He’s a special person. He’s a special Cleveland Brown, and we are all rooting for him.”
