Bernie Kosar: Alcoholic | News | Why He Needs a Liver Transplant

The name Bernie Kosar conjures memories of playoff drives in brown and orange, a gritty young quarterback leading the Cleveland Browns in the late 1980s, and later reaching the summit with the Dallas Cowboys in 1993. But behind the athletic legacy lies a sobering health saga: liver failure, a pending transplant, a Parkinson’s diagnosis—and questions about alcohol’s role. This article explores Kosar’s journey, what’s driving his need for a liver transplant, and how this reflects broader health lessons for athletes and beyond.

1. Bernie Kosar: From NFL star to health challenge

Bernie Kosar rose to prominence at the Miami Hurricanes, leading them to a national championship in 1983, then being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the supplemental draft of 1985. He played with the Browns through 1993, guided them to three AFC Championship Games, then moved to Dallas and eventually the Miami Dolphins before retiring in 1996. 
His career left physical and neurological marks: he’s reported to have sustained numerous concussions, broken bones and chronic symptoms of brain trauma.

Post-career, Kosar has grappled with serious health issues: in March 2023 he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver (advanced chronic liver disease). Then in early 2024 he revealed a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

2. What exactly is happening: Health update & transplant saga

In November 2025 the news took a critical turn: Kosar announced he underwent two “aggressive procedures” to stop internal bleeding, and a planned liver transplant was delayed because the donor organ was discovered to be infected. 
He posted from his hospital bed:

“Man, all the duress right now, I could really use your love, support and actual prayers today.” 
His doctors have said that liver disease tends to have up-and-down cycles—one moment “good phase”, next moment “anything bad could happen”.

Why does he need a transplant?

• Kosar has been diagnosed with cirrhosis, the third of four stages of liver failure.

• His medical team believe there is about a 90% chance he will eventually require a full liver transplant.

• In his own words: “I wish you could have seen me three months ago… I looked like death. I felt like death.”

3. The alcohol question: What role did drinking play?

This is where the story becomes murkier. Kosar’s health issues are clearly documented, but direct, current, verified statements from him about alcohol dependence causing his liver disease are less definitive. Here’s what we know:

• There is a record of Kosar being arrested for DUI on September 29 2013, during which police said a strong odour of alcohol was present.

• In various online forums and fan discussions, rumors have long circulated that “he drank a lot… liver paid the price” panel. For example:

  “He drank a lot. Pretty sure he quit but the liver pays the price.”

• But news reports about his liver disease do not unequivocally state that alcoholism is the primary cause. They cite cirrhosis and other health complications including brain/neurological trauma and internal bleeding.

• His doctors emphasize that liver disease flares are unpredictable and that medical regimen (diet, supplements) can help, though the damage may be deep.

Important nuance:

Cirrhosis can be caused by multiple factors — heavy alcohol use, chronic viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), drug toxicity, etc. In Kosar’s case, while alcohol may have contributed, the public information emphasises his broader health decline (bleeding, transfusions, Parkinson’s) rather than a singular focus on alcoholism.

So: Does Bernie Kosar qualify as “alcoholic”? Public evidence is suggestive but not definitive in the sense of a formal alcoholism diagnosis being disclosed. He has had alcohol‐related legal trouble, but whether that alone explains his liver failure remains unconfirmed publicly.

4. Why this matters: Broader implications

Athletes and long-term health

The Kosar story is a vivid reminder that professional athletes can carry into retirement severe health burdens: repeated concussions, surgeries, internal injuries, the wear of the sport. Kosar himself acknowledged dozens of concussions and over 80 broken bones. These can compound over time into neurological, cardiovascular and hepatic risk.

Liver health & early warning signs

Cirrhosis often develops silently until it’s advanced. Kosar recalled scheduling a blood transfusion with dangerously low haemoglobin and nearly didn’t make it home from a game. His liver issues, he said, “dated back several years” but only became diagnosed in late 2023.

Alcohol and public health

While we don’t have a conclusive public diagnosis for Kosar’s alcohol use, the broader context remains: excessive alcohol is a major risk factor for liver disease worldwide. People often overlook early signs (fatigue, jaundice, abdominal swelling). Kosar’s case can shine a spotlight on prevention and early intervention.

The transplant process and donor organ complications

Kosar’s transplant was delayed when the donor liver was found infected. This underscores how precarious the path to transplantation can be—even when one is listed. The match, timing, donor health, infection risk all complicate the journey.

5. What’s next for Bernie Kosar?

• Kosar remains on the hospital bed, undergoing treatments and awaiting a suitable donor organ. Multiple procedures to staunch internal bleeding have been reported.

• He has publicly asked fans for love, support and actual prayers—highlighting the emotional and psychological toll of his health fight.

• His doctors will continue monitoring liver-function fluctuations; the eventual goal is a transplant, then a rigorous post-transplant regimen including lifestyle changes, medication, monitoring.

• For the public and athletes alike, this may become a case study in long-term wellbeing beyond sport: how to manage health after the spotlight fades.

6. FAQs

Q1: Is Bernie Kosar on the liver transplant list?
Yes. He was placed on the list in spring 2024, after the diagnosis of cirrhosis and other health issues.

Q2: What’s the cause of his liver disease?
Cirrhosis has been diagnosed—but the precise cause (alcohol, viral, etc) is not publicly confirmed in detail. He has had at least one alcohol‐related arrest (DUI).

Q3: Has he been diagnosed with other illnesses?
Yes—he has also been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson’s disease in early 2024.

Q4: Has his transplant happened yet?
Not yet. A planned transplant in November 2025 was delayed because the donor organ was infected.

Q5: Can liver cirrhosis be reversed?
Early damage may be slowed or stabilised with lifestyle changes (no alcohol, healthy diet, managing co‐morbidities) but once cirrhosis is advanced, transplant is often the only cure. Kosar’s doctors emphasise this fact.

Q6: Why is alcohol often linked with liver transplant cases?
Chronic heavy alcohol intake can damage liver cells, causing inflammation (hepatitis), scar-tissue formation (fibrosis) and eventually cirrhosis. It is one of the most common reasons for transplantation globally. However, alcohol is not the only cause. Bernie Kosar liver transplant.

7. Final Thoughts

Bernie Kosar’s athletic legacy is secure—his rise in the NFL, his leadership, his achievements. But his current health battle reveals the very human side of sports icons: vulnerability, uncertainty, the fight for life beyond the field. Whether or not alcohol is the predominant cause of his liver failure is beside the point; the fact remains that his body is signalling alarm, and a transplant may be his chance at a second life.