Former Browns Pro Bowl quarterback Bernie Kosar diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

Bernie Kosar (Erik Drost, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Michael David Smith of NBC Sports on Tuesday, former National Football League quarterback Bernie Kosar of Boardman, Ohio, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and liver failure. Kosar is 60 years of age and recently launched a patented coffee blend that is intended to improve heart health according to Peter Chakerian of cleveland.com.

Kosar played a dozen seasons in the National Football League from 1985 to 1996 with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He completed 1994 passes in 3365 attempts for 23 301 passing yards, 124 touchdowns and 87 interceptions. On the ground, Kosar had 180 rushes for 265 rushing yards and five touchdown rushes.

Kosar is mostly known for his times in Cleveland. In 1987, he was selected to the Pro Bowl, and was third in voting for the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. Kosar was only behind San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice of Crawford, Mississippi and 49ers quarterback Joe Montana of New Eagle, Pennsylvania. In December of 2019, The Sporting Base named Rice the second best football player of all-time. 

During the 1987 NFL regular season, Kosar completed 241 passes in 389 attempts for 3033 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had 15 rushes for 22 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Kosar was also a Super Bowl champion during his brief time with the Dallas Cowboys. He was part of the Cowboys team that won Super Bowl XXXVIII as the Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 30-13 at the Georgia Dome. At the time, Kosar was the backup to Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman of West Covina, California.