A day after Brett Favre’s surprising announcement that he has Parkinson’s disease, another former Minnesota Vikings quarterback has spoken openly about his health.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Tommy Kramer — who played 14 seasons in the NFL from 1977-1990 — shared that he was diagnosed with dementia “a little over a year ago.”
“[Doctors] let’s say I could be 2 to 10 years old, I just reviewed my year and it hasn’t progressed,” the 69-year-old wrote in part, adding that he was motivated to share his health after Favre made his announcement during a congressional hearing on Tuesday.
“No sympathy please, I’ve lived a great life and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Kramer wrote. “No one wanted to win more than me and I never gave up, and that’s exactly how I’m going to fight this.”
Brett Favre, 54, reveals he has Parkinson’s disease in stunning moment at congressional hearing
Kramer and former Vikings head coach Les Steckel in 1984.
AP Photo/Larry Salzman
He continued, “Football is the life we choose to live and sometimes things like this can happen. I’m grateful to the NFL for the opportunity and I’m glad they’re trying to do things to protect today’s players.”
Kramer added that he also hopes to draw attention to other former NFL players “that I’ve played with who need all the help they can get” financially.
“Unfortunately for me, the NFL will only try to help with my medical bills and therapy that my personal insurance will not cover,” he wrote. “I hope to raise awareness so the NFL can help others and future players who struggle with illnesses like myself.”
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A native of San Antonio, Texas, Kramer attended Rice University in Houston and was selected in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft. After playing most of his career in Minnesota, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints in 1990 and played one game with the team before retiring.
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After Favre revealed he had Parkinson’s disease — which he revealed during a congressional hearing about his alleged mismanagement of Mississippi welfare funds — the retired athlete said in a post on X that he was grateful to those who “supported him.”
“As you know, I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which has been a difficult ordeal,” he wrote. “My wife, family and friends have supported me and I want to thank them for being there for me.”
The Hall of Fame quarterback concluded, “To my fans and well-wishers — thank you all for the love.”
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Source: HIS Education