Decades after guiding Cleveland through its comeback era, Kosar faced his own life-and-death battle. In 2024, he disclosed a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease, and he underwent a liver transplant in November 2025. Now several months into recovery, the 62-year-old Browns legend has again shared updates from University Hospitals as he undergoes routine bloodwork.
During an Instagram post dated September 14, Kosar wrote from a Monday morning visit to University Hospital, noting that despite an uncertain outcome the day before, he was “enjoying my Monday morning at University Hospital, despite yesterday’s outcome, getting my cranium inflated while waiting for some bloodwork. Still representing our team! Have a winning day & week.” The post included the hashtags #UMatter and #Dawgpound.
Kosar publicly discussed his liver health battle in July 2024, but warning signs appeared years earlier. He revealed that he had dealt with unexplained liver-related issues for years, and doctors diagnosed cirrhosis roughly 16 months before the public revelation. By late 2023, the condition became increasingly difficult to ignore.
“As I attended a Browns home game against the New York Jets in December 2023, my body gave out on me,” Kosar recalled. “I really felt like I wasn’t going to make it home from the Jets game. I pushed through, but I avoided doctors until the new year. Then I went into the hospital and received a massive blood transfusion. It was like: ‘How are you alive? How are you moving?’ because your hemoglobin levels were so low.”
What followed was a lengthy health battle. Kosar became ill again while traveling to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl and spent several days in the hospital. By July 2024, he estimated spending about 40 to 50 nights in hospitals over the previous seven months, with roughly 20 to 25 procedures or surgeries. His condition progressed to the point where doctors placed him on a liver transplant list.
After more than a year on the transplant list, Kosar received a new liver in November 2025. However, the journey did not end there. In January 2026, routine bloodwork indicated a small rejection of the transplanted liver, sending him back to the hospital for treatment. “So I’m back in here, IV’d up, trying to get my body here to accept this new liver, this new gift, so I can get on to have an awesome, positive 2026,” Kosar shared.
Kosar spent nine seasons with the Browns, finishing his Cleveland career with 21,904 passing yards and 116 touchdown passes. While he did not deliver the Super Bowl that the city longed for, his impact on Cleveland — both on and off the field — has endured long after his playing days.
In a remarkable turn, Kosar learned that a donor would become part of his life-saving story through a Browns connection he could never have anticipated. Bryce Dunlap, a 21-year-old Browns fan, suffered an anoxic brain injury in November 2025 and was placed on a ventilator. After doctors indicated he would not survive, Dunlap’s family chose to donate his organs. Kosar described his initial pull of hope during the transplant process and the emotional weight of knowing that a young Browns fan’s life would intersect with his.
Kosar later learned that Bryce Dunlap was the donor whose liver saved his life. Since the transplant, Kosar has remained close to the Dunlap family, honoring Bryce on what would have been his birthday with a tribute on social media. The Browns also honored Bryce’s family during a December 2025 home game, with Bryce’s mother participating in a Dawg Pound tradition by smashing a guitar in front of the crowd while wearing a jersey bearing Kosar’s number and her late son’s name.
This extraordinary medical journey—from a legendary Browns quarterback to the recipient of a life-saving transplant donated by a grateful young fan—highlights a story of resilience, community, and shared loyalty that continues to resonate with Browns supporters.
