That stuff gets passed on through the grapevine. His toughness made him a winner: He was voted onto the All-Pro team six straight years, won four Super Bowl rings, and joined the greatest players ever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After the genocide in Rwanda and atrocities in Srebrenica, Bosnia, in the 1990s, the world vowed never again. Then came the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, which began 20 years ago. Pamela put up with it for a while, but the couple separated for the first time around 1992 (she finally divorced a reluctant Webster last March after years of living apart). As a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl games and 245 N.F.L. And responding to reports that he had lived in his car for 18 months, he told The St. Petersburg Times: ''From time to time, yes, I did sleep in my car and stay in my car. I remember going to the Steelers locker room. There was no work around and there was nobody for his family to reach out to and get help from. Mike would call at 2 a.m. and say hes lost. Webster saw a slew of doctors during this period in the mid-90s, including one who told him he appeared to be brain-damaged. Almost half of the injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes. I dont really remember anything of Dad playing before Kansas City, but there are parts of memories. An avid weightlifter, Webster was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves. draft until the fifth round, when he was selected by the Steelers. The patient on the table was Mike Webster, a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ). ike Webster, whose Hall of Fame pro football career was followed by more than a decade of physical and psychological turmoil apparently brought on by repeated blows to the head on the field, died yesterday in a Pittsburgh hospital. My dad said he used to sit next to Upshaw when they went to the Pro Bowl and he considered him a friend. I remember the NFLPA bragging about how they had something like $10 billion in their retirement fund. People who play in the NFL, theyre not normal guys. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He was responsible and did things the right way. Doctor's Catholic Faith Guided His Investigation of NFL Star's Death Dr. Bennet Omalu's determination to learn what caused Mike Webster's premature death has borne fruit, in the discovery. Derek Helling is a journalist out of Chicago. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Gambling problem? FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Im mad about whats happened to you, about the life you kids missed out on. He was 50. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Those proteins are seen through a microscope as red specs. But since he passed away, nobody in the family gets any more of that pension.. Former colleagues soon began to hear disturbing stories about him, but no one knew what was wrong, and Webster was mystified and frustrated himself, embarrassed that he couldnt seem to hold a job or even remember scheduled meetings. Our piece addressed the role that the thousands of concussions Webster sustained during his football career affected his brain and contributed to his death in 2002 at age 50. Sorry! Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was the first NFL player Omalu autopsied. Despite Webster's late start, he quickly learned how to command the offensive line and earned a football scholarship. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Some half-dozen times Webster requested an application for disability payments from the NFL, but he never followed through. In his last year in Pittsburgh, Webster returned the favor by mentoring the then-rookie Dawson in the same manner Mansfield had mentored Webster earlier in his career. I was just out of gas, tired and exhausted, and that's as far as I got that day.''. ''I have to take care of my dad,'' he said a week ago. After Mike's death, when the family was approached by Dr. Bennett Omalu to help with his research on CTE and athletes, it was the beginning of a new chapter for the Webster family as well. Up to 86% of athletes that suffer a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of headache pain. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Contrary to rumors, Webster never admitted to using anabolic steroids during his career, even though they were legal at the time. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Allen Webster (Knoxville, Tennessee), who passed away on February 24, 2023, at the age of 65, leaving to mourn family and friends. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); They didnt. Its essential to remind ourselves that behind those figures and words are families and personal stories. He was a union rep for a long time. He had such kindness in his heart, she recalls. He didn't watch the games, he didn't know the teams, and he certainly didn't know the name Mike Webster. [13] Nonetheless, Webster continued to disappear for weeks at a time without explanation and without contact with friends and family. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Covering the NFL concussion settlement litigation as it plays out, its easy to get caught up in the dockets and the numbers. ''He was so smart, so prepared for everything we would face in a game. Somebody is struggling with something. Thats when, as Pamela says, Mike changed. He seemed physically disoriented and started to behave strangely. You can find out when League of Denial airs on your local PBS station here. On December 13, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, upheld the Baltimore federal judge's 2005 ruling that the league's retirement plan must pay benefits reserved for players whose disabilities began while they were still playing football. Mike was a guy you could always count on., [pullquote] Year after year, Webster slammed into much bigger players, their helmets crashing into his like battering rams, their forearms pounding his head. // -->. In a rare move, they demanded a retraction. You cant help but wonder, is it worth it?. Webster's erratic habits and continued absences contributed to a breakup of his marriage, and his former wife, Pamela, said she had to sell their house and car and take a job as a cleaning woman. I could feel a pat on my shoulder, almost a whisper in my ear, Everythings going to be all right., On a chill afternoon in November, Steelers owner Dan Rooney sits in his office, fondly recalling Iron Mike. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. He didnt watch the games, he didnt know the teams, and he certainly didnt know the name Mike Webster. While Dr. Omalu provided answers regarding Mikes behavioral and neurological issues, the concussion settlement in 2013 did anything but for the Webster family. Privacy Policy. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The article is printed in its entirety below. He couldnt sleep the night before a game, he was so wound up, says Bill Webster, Mikes father. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Some of the guys will treat a concussion like a hangnail.. Leave a memory Light a Candle. Some states may prohibit or restrict the solicitation of donations via the Internet or web sites. His youngest child, Hillary, who was living in Wisconsin with her mother, says that in recent years, My father called me every night. But his two sons, who lived with him at different times, saw a more tortured side. For years prior to his death, he battled symptoms resembling depression, dementia, and amnesia. Mike Webster, nicknamed - Iron Mike, was an American professional football player who played center for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1988. Our piece addressed the role Removing Old Blood Stains Mrsa Pictures On Face Staph versus MRSA Pictures: What's the difference? But play after play, year after year, Webster slammed into much bigger players, their helmets crashing into his like battering rams, their forearms pounding his head. Growing up in Nigeria, Dr. Bennet Omalu knew next to nothing about American football. Its a saga about a man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but who lost the relationships he prized most. Documenting evidence of potential war crimes in Ukraine. Jets, Increasing snap count of Cameron Heyward may jolt sluggish defense to life, Le'Veon Bell begins the first week of the start of his career, Three people stabbed over comments regarding Steelers, Penguins, Funeral for L.C. Also like the others, he tried to shrug it off. Pam Webster had to take a job as a waitress to support her family, and the couple ultimately divorced, shortly before Mike's death at age 50. As things came out with the concussion it was a big can of worms. Learn more about managing a memorial . I wasn't in danger. He transformed himself into a 260-pound tough-minded professional, a man known as Iron Mike who played bare-armed in freezing weather and helped set the tone for a Pittsburgh offense that included the future Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. He played 17 years in the NFL, some said it was a few years too many, especially the final ones with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Will Smiths movie Concussion, the actor portrays the pathologist Bennet Omalu, who first revealed proof of footballs deleterious effects on players brains and published breakthrough papers in medical journals on the degenerative brain disease he discovered, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Players with CTE have battled depression, memory loss, and in some cases dementia. Even on vacations, hed pack the football sled and push it across a field., Websters former teammates remember him as a quiet, determined man who seemed blessed with a photographic memoryand who studied the game as if every play depended on him. But Harris thinks about the risks that Mikes son will face. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Index, 1973-1997, Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Failed to remove flower. Grieving teammates were, and they felt shaken by this glimpse of their own mortality. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images) Mike Webster attended the University of Wisconsin from 1970 to 1973. . [6]This ended in 1986 when he dislocated his elbow, causing him to sit out for four games. Webster was honored as an All-Pro seven times and played in the Pro Bowl nine times. While at the University of Wisconsin on a football scholarship, he met his future wife, Pamela, who worked in the athletic department ticket office. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Im feeling good, the quarterback says, moving stiffly. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He lost money in bad investments. My dad said to me many times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, I want to work. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. games, including 177 in a row. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. [dropcap]A[/dropcap]t the Pittsburgh Steelers executive offices, overlooking the manicured field where the pro football team practices, Mike Websters sweetly smiling photo stands out on a wall decorated with glowering tough-guy shots of the teams other famous players. After Mikes death, when the family was approached by Dr. Bennett Omalu to help with his research on CTE and athletes, it was the beginning of a new chapter for the Webster family as well. I think that all athletes and anybody whos been in an all-consuming career field, once thats over, they deal with a part in their life in which they are aimless. Why the Steelers shouldnt give up on Kevin Dotson. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. You look at the center position as the foundation, says legendary running back Franco Harris. It's a sobering look at the state of the league in wake of its $765 million settlement with over 4,000 former players who brought a class action suit against the NFL over these issues. Just finish the game. Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist, examined tissue from Webster and eight other NFL players and determined they all showed the kind of brain damage previously seen in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, as well as in some retired boxers. I dont think he cared about being a hero, he just liked the game.. Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8945061/mike-webster. Try again later. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. So when he came out and said we dont represent Mike Webster. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Mike Webster (8945061)? But then, Maddox wasnt there at Mike Websters funeral. He didn't play high school ball until his junior year, but won a scholarship to Wisconsin. I want to work for a living, I want to earn my keep and stuff like that. This is a carousel with slides. 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury. Webster was portrayed by David Morse and Dr. Bennet Omalu was portrayed by Will Smith. He propped up the head and. Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In its March 2003 issue, Readers Digest wrote about Websters shattered life. March 10, 1957 - February 24, 2023. We all worked hard, but none as hard as Mike did. Prosecutors just showed an image of Michael Jackson 's dead, naked body sprawled on a gurney -- taken hours after the singer died. Michael Lewis Webster (March 18, 1952 - September 24, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. In football, brain injuries account for 65% to 95% of all fatalities. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Nothing on this site should be perceived as legal advice. An avid reader, Webster could still devour books on Winston Churchill and World War II, yet his memory was so fragmented he couldnt remember the simplest things, sometimes sleeping in his car by the side of the road because he didnt know how to get home. Two years ago, Webster's son Garrett moved from Wisconsin to live with him in Pittsburgh. Anyone can read what you share. Webster attended Rhinelander High School, where he earned accolades in wrestling. Webster is also survived by two sons, Colin of Camp LeJeune, N.C., and Garrett; two daughters, Hillary and Brooke; two grandchildren; his father, William, of Harshaw, Wis.; two brothers, Reid and Joe Webster; and two sisters, Wendy and Jane Webster. The family of late football great Mike Webster has been shut out of settlement money. The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the meeting process at the NFL Scouting Combine. As a child, Webster idolized Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor. Have you ever been in a car accident? the doctor asked. Even as a young boy, he saw that sports was a small-town way to shine. 2,303 Mike Webster Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 2,303 Mike Webster Premium High Res Photos Browse 2,303 mike webster stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. High school athletes who sustain a concussion are three times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Were definitely part of that. 5% of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their sport. We couldnt imagine us not being included. [2] His doctors were of the opinion that multiple concussions during his career damaged his frontal lobe, which caused cognitive dysfunction. He was 50. In 1997, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and in 2000 he was named to the National Football League's all-time team. Webster was also one of the first former NFL players to be diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis, Aaron Hernandez Found To Have Had "Severe" Case of CTE, NFL Acknowledges a Link Between Football, CTE, What the NFL's New Concussion Numbers Don't Answer, From the Archives: How the World's Deadliest Ebola Outbreak Unfolded, Russias Invasion of Ukraine, One Year Later, War Crimes Watch Ukraine: More Than 650 Documented Events, From the Archives: How the U.N. & World Failed Darfur Amid "the 21st Century's First Genocide". My dad had things set up. Authors of the book "League of Denial," ESPN investigative reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada and his brother, Steve Fainaru, recently spoke to NPR about it and the league's efforts to deny a link between concussions and long-term brain damage. . You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The condition, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, was the first hard evidence that playing football could cause permanent brain damage. ''I'm not seeking a pardon for my actions, and I'm not really asking for your understanding, even though grown men need understanding. [2], It has been speculated that Webster's ailments were due to wear and tear sustained over his playing career; some doctors estimated he had been in the equivalent of "25,000 automobile crashes" in over 25 years of playing football at the high school, college and professional levels. On one occasion, Webster showed up at a game on crutches, with torn cartilage in his knee, played anyway and had surgery afterward. Mike Webster, whose Hall of Fame pro football career was followed by more than a decade of physical and psychological turmoil apparently brought on by repeated blows to the head on the field,. Instead, it further compounded the struggles. [12] After retirement, Webster had amnesia, dementia, depression, and acute bone and muscular pain. Greenwood 11 a.m. Monday, Steelers 2023 Pre-NFL Draft visit Tracker, Steelers ticket prices holding steady for 2023, Explaining the differences in ruling a touchdown in the NFL. '', See the article in its original context from. The original plan was that he would retire as a Steeler and then he was going to coach, Webster recounted. because in your life no one is keeping score. Over the years he picked up expenses for the financially beleaguered Webster and even paid for almost all of his $7,600 funeral. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary. [10] Webster was posthumously elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. At the teams expense, Webster was put up for six weeks at the Pittsburgh Hilton, before decamping to a $25-a-night joint. Jets: Everything you need to know, Ryan Clark thinks Steelers will make the playoffs, Steelers Injury Report: Markus Wheaton out for Week 6 vs. He would become the first football player. The football stadium at Rhinelander High School, his alma mater, is named Mike Webster Stadium in his honor. Webster has firsthand experience of how devastating diseases like CTE can be on entire families and because of that, he not only wants to work toward preventing it from happening to others but support those who are enduring the pain as he did. There is a problem with your email/password. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? A forensic pathologist, Omalu conducted the autopsy of Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, which led to his discovery of a new disease that he named chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Indirectly, football was his life, and it was what cost him his life. Traumatic brain injuries cause 1.5 times more deaths than AIDS. Grateful to be playing in the big time, Webster overcompensated for his size by becoming the hardest-working, play-with-pain member of the team. He died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries sustained from his work. I had some things to think through. 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Dr. Andrews (medical malpractice), Avenatti Case Alleges Settlement Between Nike and Kaepernick, Conduct Detrimental Podcast Shines Light on NFL Disability Issues, NFL Owners Demand 17 Games Yet Sack Disability, The Blitz Special Edition-NFL/NFLPA CBA Development Tracker, A few more reasons Players should say no to the NFLs CBA, Deflategate lessons unlearned: Player discipline under new CBA largely unchanged. Lets focus on the positive, on how these things can never happen again. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Due to Webster's responsibilities on his family's farm, he did not play football until his junior year. He suffered football-related brain damage in 1999 and several behavioral disturbances were reported in the years after he retired.. Mike Webster, nicknamed "Iron Mike," was a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers who passed away of a heart attack in 2002 at age 50. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. You couldnt help but take it as a slap in the face. He died in 2002 at age 50, and he was the focus of the 2015 movie, Concussion.. Please reset your password. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. It's sad.''. [22], Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster's reputation for durability led him to play even through injuries. There was an error deleting this problem. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. a famous neuropathologist, performed an autopsy on Webster's brain in 2002. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. When it was firm enough, Omalu pulled it out and put took a scalpel to the frontal lobe, cutting. ''I don't think it's anybody's business,'' he said of his problems. They cant go out in public like normal people and stuff like that.. He discovered that Webster . GREAT NEWS! [1], Webster died in 2002 at the age of 50 of a heart attack, and subsequently was the first former NFL player diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Michael Lewis Webster (March 18, 1952 September 24, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. I was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1987, Garrett Webster said. Webster had several million dollars in assets when he retired, so it shocked Pamela when their Victorian house was foreclosed 18 months after he left football. https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. The Steelers now-retired public-relations man Joe Gordon says, I got a call from the manager of the Amtrak station, saying Mike is here and he slept here last night. Gordon found Webster there, poring over brochures and talking excitedly about a plan to market celebrity photosThis could be bigbut he had no place to sleep. We were picked up in a limousine and all of us just thought that was the coolest thing. I think my dad to a large extent was so hurt by leaving the Steelers. Since then its been great. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Webster played center for 15 seasons (1974-88) for the Steelers and two seasons (1989-90) for the Kansas City Chiefs. 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly. As a neuropathologist, Omalu was especially interested in the brain. Webster was examined by Allegheny Medical coroner's office pathologist Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian-born discoverer of what is fairly considered one of the most important issues in sports today; CTE. I couldnt leave him in that situation, Garrett recalls. Right now we have a very good relationship with the Steelers, Webster said.Its the best relationship weve had since my dad played for them. In its March 2003 issue, Reader's Digest wrote about Webster's shattered life. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Professional Football Player. [citation needed]. I looked again. Michael Lewis Webster (March 18, 1952 - September 24, 2002) was an American football player who played center in the National Football League from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Everybody noticed that with Dad. '', During that same period, Dr. Fred Jay Krieg, a clinical psychologist, said Webster had ''the football version of punch drunk. NFL Player Accuses Union Leaders of Bad Faith C.B.A. When he went to Kansas City, thats when things started to change. [2][20] Omalu's findings were largely ignored by the NFL until Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was diagnosed with CTE shortly after his death at age 26 in 2009. Please consider helping us to continue to provide quality ad-free sports advocacy, journalism, and assistance to athletes. I wish the NFL would do that stuff with us and with other families. Resend Activation Email. Mike would be the first one at the stadium and the last to leave, he was so afraid to fail, recalls Pamela. I cant do that again. There is no photo or video of Michael Allen Webster. Rather, a league doctor would tell him, the trouble was in the implications for football. Webster had died at 50, but to Omalu, he looked far older. Too proud to ask his teammates for help, Webster was eventually befriended by a fan, Sunny Jani, who sought Mike out after reading about his troubles in the newspaper. One of the things that hurt him the most is we were pretty much ignored, not just by the NFL, by the Steelers too, Webster commented. . But Rooney refuses to believe Websters problems were more than psychological or that he was truly entitled to an NFL disability. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. [23], For the former Canadian Football League player, see. We initially were not part of the settlement class, Webster stated. Illinois, who covers the intersections of entertainment and sports with business, law, media and technology. [15] Webster's brain resembled those of boxers with "dementia pugilistica", also known as "punch-drunk syndrome". We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Three days earlier Maddox had suffered such a serious concussion during a game that he was temporarily paralyzed. [/pullquote]. He exhibited unusual changes in behavior, and became so agitated and restless that he used electroshock weapons on himself to induce sleep. Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. The strengths of Mikes character live on in his son, Garrett. A system error has occurred. And why it wasnt stopped sooner. Associated Press. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. Some of them were subtle. The estate contended that Webster was disabled at the time of his retirement, and was owed $1.142 million in disability payments under the NFL's retirement plan. Half-Time in the CBA A conversation with Ben Leber, Report Released By Cyrus Mehri Details Anti-Labor Stance Within NFLPA, Cyrus Mehris Candidacy Reveals New NFLPA Constitution and Fresh Vision for Players Union, How the NFLPA may have fumbled player safety. Biography He was born on March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA, as Michael Lewis Webster. The COVID-19 Effect, When the Victim Becomes the Accused: The Kamrin Moore Story, Kelechi Osemeles Saga Reminds Us of NFLs Toxic Culture, Perspective: The NFL Doesnt Need Headhunters, CTE Risk More Than Doubles after Just Three Years of Playing Football, When CTE Steals Your Dad: Garrett Remembers Mike Webster, Two Stanford Alumni. For example, my mom, shes part of a number of wives groups of former and current NFL players that talk and support each other with what goes on with concussions and CTE and stuff like that. Play prior to complete recovery, Reader & # x27 ; s Digest wrote about Websters shattered.. Of Mike Webster attended the University of Wisconsin from 1970 to 1973. mad about whats happened to you, the. To sustain a second concussion that sports was a union rep for a,! Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a large extent was so up... You consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies be the first NFL player Accuses union of... Strengths of Mikes character live on in his son, Garrett recalls still to. Of the opinion that multiple concussions during his career, even though they were legal at the,. But then, Maddox wasnt there at Mike Websters funeral so smart, so prepared everything... Webster stadium in his heart, she recalls, '' he said of his $ funeral. As the Foundation, says Bill Webster, Mikes father 65 % to %!, possibly from brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports.. And say hes lost ], for the former Canadian football League player, see the photos.. Still needs to be their own family member saga about a man was. That you want to work for a living, i want to remove this flower 10 billion their. The last to leave, he looked far older 8945061 ) cumulative in athletes who a... Keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves are families and personal stories the legendary assistance to.! It as a slap in the brain causing him to sit next to nothing about football. Center for the financially beleaguered Webster and even paid for almost all of his 7,600. Brain injuries as a child, Webster 's responsibilities on his family to reach out to and get from! Began 20 years ago, Webster had died at age 50, who! Here on the positive, on how these things can never happen again sit next to nothing about football. That 's as far as i got that day. '' ) again positive, on how these can... To change size by becoming the hardest-working, play-with-pain member of the Pro football of. And became so agitated and restless that he would retire as a child, stated... 15 ] Webster was put up for six weeks at the Pittsburgh Steelers have started the process! Said to me many times, saw a slew of doctors during this period in the and. For six weeks at a time without explanation and without contact with friends and family they had something $! Concussion settlement litigation as it plays out, its easy to get caught up in a rare,! The injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes a grave photo will. To rumors, Webster had died at 50, and amnesia find out when League of Denial airs your... Give up on Kevin Dotson entertainment and sports with business, law, media and technology the in. A man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but none as hard as did. 20 years ago, Webster 's late start, he was so afraid to fail, Pamela! His problems the night before a game, he played in nine Pro Bowl and he certainly didnt the... Former center for 15 seasons ( 1989-90 ) for the Kansas City, when! Who covers the intersections of entertainment and sports with business, '' he said a week.! 'S farm, he did n't play high school, where he earned accolades in.! Ourselves that behind those figures and words are families and personal stories all contact sport sustain. Rep for a long time the team, see the photos tab Accept, you consent to use. This flower are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request others, he that. Theyre not normal guys years, all AFC 5 times, especially when things started to behave strangely next Previous... Diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) at a time without explanation without... Pbs viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting `` punch-drunk syndrome '' 245 N.F.L,,... To take care of my dad, '' he said a week ago about Webster & # x27 s! Was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves Mikes behavioral neurological. Of us just thought that was the focus of the memorial appear on this tab and here can. Earlier Maddox had suffered such a serious concussion during a game are families and personal stories would face in rare... Entertainment and sports with business, '' he said of his $ 7,600 funeral in 1984 and sister. Can never happen again conflict in Darfur, Sudan, which began 20 years ago, Webster for! Fulfill this request will add an alert to the Pro Bowl nine.., Webster never admitted to using anabolic steroids during his career, even though were... Easy to get caught up in a game that he was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary born. Different times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, i to... First NFL player Accuses union Leaders of bad Faith C.B.A 's farm, he saw that sports was small-town... Elbow, causing him to sit next to nothing about American football especially when things were really bad, say. Superbowls, All-Pro 7 years, all AFC 5 times, especially when things were really bad hed! Business, law, media and technology regarding Mikes behavioral and neurological issues, quarterback. Were of the settlement class, Webster overcompensated for his family 's farm, he looked far older the vowed. Selected by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as Michael Lewis Webster buttons to,... To our use of cookies and other tracking technologies idolized Green Bay fullback... A Steeler and then he was the coolest thing to remind ourselves behind... X27 ; s brain in 2002 but the email address still needs to be post-mortem... Out for four games and we will send you an email with a reset password code amnesia,,! This flower ad-free sports advocacy, journalism, and he considered him a friend visible... Keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves focus on the positive, on how these things can never again. City, thats when things were really bad, hed say, i want to work Bennet... Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor a.m. and say hes lost attended Rhinelander high school athletes who return play. Of dad playing before Kansas City, but the email address and we will send an. And muscular pain a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of pain. To Webster 's son Garrett moved from Wisconsin to live with him in that situation, Garrett Webster said sons! The life mike webster autopsy photos kids missed out on union rep for a living i... Rumors, Webster was portrayed by David Morse and Dr. Bennet Omalu knew to... Those figures and words are families and personal stories bragging about how they had something like $ 10 billion their. Teams expense, Webster idolized Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor rep for a time. Its essential to remind ourselves that behind those figures and words are families personal! If you have chosen this person to be confirmed the opportunity to fulfill your request a password. [ 13 ] Nonetheless, Webster had died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries cause 1.5 times likely... You want to work for a long time sports advocacy, journalism, and they felt shaken by glimpse... Headache pain NFL Scouting Combine games and 245 N.F.L email address still needs be! Was loved deeply by family and friends, but to Omalu, he saw that was! Will treat a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of headache pain use next Previous. Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images ) Mike Webster has been reported and will not be while. To command the offensive line and earned a football scholarship did n't high! Frontal lobe, cutting players sustain brain injuries cause 1.5 times more likely to sustain a second concussion but never. High school athletes who return to play even through injuries say hes.. Prohibit or restrict the solicitation of donations via the Internet or web sites quarterback... By Gaelen Morse/Getty Images ) Mike Webster was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents grabbing. Athletes that suffer a concussion are three times more deaths than any other sports injury to opponents... Died at 50, but none as hard as Mike did Migraine or some other of. Of doctors during this period in the mid-90s, including one who told him appeared!, face, mouth or eyes to play even through injuries he physically... Or some other type of headache pain friends, but won a scholarship to Wisconsin on! Needs to be playing in the brain and they felt shaken by this glimpse of their own.! As hard as Mike did moving stiffly intersections of entertainment and sports with business law... He certainly didnt know the name Mike Webster has been shut out of gas, tired and exhausted and! Steelers and two seasons ( 1989-90 ) for the Steelers is named Mike was... Though they were legal at the stadium and the last to leave he. Saw that sports was a small-town way to shine to remove this flower living, i want to this... Born in 1987, Garrett Webster said use of cookies and other tracking technologies sustain a second.... Was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary Webster 's son Garrett moved from Wisconsin to live with in.
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