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Legendary former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar needs some prayers right now after announcing that he is battling both Parkinson’s disease and liver failure.

Kosar’s Devastating Health Announcement

Kosar, 60, revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s by an “independent NFL doctor” back in February. The former Cleveland Browns quarterback was then placed on a liver transplant list at the end of the spring.

Kosar told Cleveland Magazine that his body “gave out” when he went to support the Browns at their December 28th matchup against the New York Jets. 

“I really felt like I wasn’t going to make it home from the Jets game,” Kosar recalled. “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,'” he added.

Things got even worse in February, when Kosar attended Super Bowl festivities in Las Vegas. He had to spend several days in the hospital, and by the next month, he “looked like death.”

“I wish you could have seen me three months ago,” Kosar stated. “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.”

Related: Tom Brady Reveals His Biggest Regret From His NFL Career

Slight Good News For Kosar – Past NFL Career

There is some good news for Kosar, however. His doctor Anthony Post explained that the former NFL star’s condition has improved slightly.

“Liver disease does tend to fluctuate,” said Post. “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.”

While the cause of Kosar’s liver issue is not known, his doctors told him that his liver has “an incredibly high level of an organic solvent, higher than we’ve seen literally in anyone.”

Before retiring from professional football in 1996, Kosar played 12 NFL seasons for the Browns, the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys. During that time, he threw for 23,301 yards and 124 touchdowns.

Kosar earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1988. He later won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 1994 as a backup to Troy Aikman. Fans are hoping that Kosar can bring the determination he showed in his NFL career to his current health battles.

Related: Roger Goodell Discusses Likelihood Of An 18-Game NFL Schedule

Kosar’s Future

Moving forward, Kosar’s Dr. Post is confident about his chances.

“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 himself is trying to remain positive.

“It’s amazing that you can feel as good as I do despite all this stuff going on,” Kosar concluded. “I can see that what I’m doing is making a difference. I strongly believe it will continue. Time will tell.”

This is clearly a terrifying time for Kosar. Please join us in saying a prayer for him.

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