[15][16][17], Webster was cremated and his ashes were returned to his wife and their four children. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. On one occasion, Webster showed up at a game on crutches, with torn cartilage in his knee, played anyway and had surgery afterward. ), [pullquote] There was no other explanation for Websters deterioration; the repeated banging of his brain against his skull had damaged the brains nerve cells. Webster played two seasons in Kansas City before announcing his retirement on March 11, 1991, after a 17-year career with a total of 245 games played at center. Michael Allen Webster. In the aftermath of the settlement, Webster found that the franchise his father gave his life to enrich, the Steelers, treated him with indifference if not contempt. 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. I was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1987, Garrett Webster said. Thats what for whatever reason they dont do because lets be real, they could settle with every single one of the people in this lawsuit for the maximum amount and make the money back.. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Thats when, as Pamela says, Mike changed. He seemed physically disoriented and started to behave strangely. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed on this site are the result of research and analysis done by Advocacy for Fairness in Sports. And he had such a soft spot for children. The couple married shortly after the Steelers drafted him in the fifth round in 1974, and eventually had four children: Brooke, now 26, sons Colin and Garrett24 and 19and Hillary, 15. '', During that same period, Dr. Fred Jay Krieg, a clinical psychologist, said Webster had ''the football version of punch drunk. But Webster tried to reassure people that his life was not as damaged as it seemed. He was an undersized 225-pound center at the University of Wisconsin who lingered in the N.F.L. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. According to CDC estimates,1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the United States each year. [2] His doctors were of the opinion that multiple concussions during his career damaged his frontal lobe, which caused cognitive dysfunction. Try again. 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. Even as a young boy, he saw that sports was a small-town way to shine. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. He was the Steelers' offensive captain for nine years. He was 50. Year should not be greater than current year. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the meeting process at the NFL Scouting Combine. Teammate Terry Bradshaw regularly covered expenses for Webster and his family, while Steelers owner Dan Rooney paid for a hotel room for Webster for over three months. Ive been in 350,000 car accidents, Mike replied. GREAT NEWS! But we did get it for him., Midway through our interview, Rooney jumps up and strides out into the hallway to give a warm Welcome back, how are you? to Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox. He experienced fits of rage and confusion, drained his assets, and even went through a period of homelessness. [14], In his last years Webster lived with his youngest son, Garrett, who though only a teenager at the time, moved from Wisconsin to Pittsburgh to care for his father. And I don't want their pity. Literary and Cultural Heritage Map of PA. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Late Steelers great Webster's case launched the CTE brain debate, "The Life And Career Of Mike Webster (Story)", "Before 'Concussion': An Inside Glimpse of NFL Player Mike Webster's Utterly Tragic Final Days", Reflections in Iron: Mike Websters Training Methods, People: Pro Football; Webster Retires https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/12/sports/sports-people-pro-football-webster-retires.htmlhttps://www.profootballhistory.com/mike-webster/Sports People: Pro Football; Webster Retires, "Ben Roethlisberger breaks Mike Webster's record for most games played with Steelers", Mike Webster, 50, Dies; Troubled Football Hall of Famer, Mike Webster autopsy 'one of the most significant moments in the history of sports', "Researchers: Late NFL player had degenerative brain condition - ESPN", "Game Brain: Football Players and Concussions", "Former Steeler's Family Wins Disability Ruling", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Webster&oldid=1142356025, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 23:35. The father and son slept on the floor, surrounded by pizza boxes. Bruce Willis Condition, Explained. My dad played 17 years and we did eventually win our pension suit. [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. Two Very Different NFLs for Andrew Luck and Amon Gordon, Andrew Lucks retirement, and pain he endured, hit close to home for former Charger, Brain Injury Casts a Dark Cloud Over NFLs 100th Season, New Report Projects Minimum 10% of NFL Players will Develop CTE, Tamarick Vanover chronicles classic story of disposable NFL players, The story of Bill Cesare demonstrates how little the NFL and NFLPA do to take care of former players, The Story of an NFL Wife a Conversation with Cyndy Feasel. His wife Pamela stated years later that she felt that she caused Webster's change in personality in the years before his death and placed guilt on herself over her decision to divorce Webster, until discovering after his death about the CTE diagnosis. I remember really distinctly two days after he passed away when our lawyer came to us, said he was contacted by Dr. Omalu and he wanted to do a brain exam. For males, the leading cause of high school sports concussion is football; for females the leading cause of high school sports concussion is soccer. You couldnt help but take it as a slap in the face. Webster is seen as an example of the difficulties American football players suffer when their careers are over. Webster had died of a heart attack at the age of 50. Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. The head is involved in more baseball injuries than any other body part. I saw changes that shouldnt be in a 50-year-old mans brains, and also changes that shouldnt be in a brain that looked normal.. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This is a carousel with slides. Later, he was treated for depression and symptoms of congestive heart failure. In a rare move, they demanded a retraction. I remember my dads last game at Pittsburgh. The condition, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, was the first hard evidence that playing football could cause permanent brain damage. ''You only fail if you don't finish the game,'' he said. [citation needed]. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. You're going to fail -- I did -- but that's O.K. But I do promise you this: No matter what happens, I will answer the charges. . He didnt want a handout. Anyone can read what you share. Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his 2nd year of elgibility. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Bear Grylls Reveals His 6 Keys to Staying Fit at Any Age. Webster also played his final two years for the Kansas City Chiefs. The son, at 6 feet 9 inches and 340 pounds, is a high school senior and an offensive lineman on his football team. High school athletes who sustain a concussion are three times more likely to sustain a second concussion. I do actively seek out sons, daughters and family members of NFL players. We represent current players, not former players. [/pullquote]. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Search above to list available cemeteries. Leah Gray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding . Weve updated the security on the site. 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). Webster's estate brought a lawsuit in Maryland's U.S. District Court against the National Football League. The work of helping former NFL players with head injuries is ongoing, just as the concussion litigation will continue for years yet. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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". Through interviews with former players, scientists and other experts on the concussion issue, it examines what the NFL knew about the risks of such injuries, and when it knew it. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. [12] With the addition of interest and fees, that amount was estimated to exceed $1.60 million. Some of the guys will treat a concussion like a hangnail.. 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. He got his bell rung all the time, just like the rest of us, says former teammate Rocky Bleier. Webster also stated that in his playing days he had tried anabolic steroids -- illegal body-building substances that can cause health problems -- but he maintained they were not responsible for his condition. He suffered football-related brain damage in 1999 and several behavioral disturbances were reported in the years after he retired.. Covering the NFL concussion settlement litigation as it plays out, its easy to get caught up in the dockets and the numbers. [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). He discovered that Webster . Instead, it further compounded the struggles. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Try again later. Since 2017, the National Football League has paid $714 million for brain damage sustained by 1,023 of its. 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. [dropcap]S[/dropcap]oon after his last season in 1990, Webster moved, at his wifes urging, back to her hometown of Lodi, Wisconsin. When he got to Kansas City that was a clear break, like in a movie. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary. Mike Powell/Getty Images "Iron Mike" Webster helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 70's. After leaving the game, he suffered depression and dementia, dying in 2002 at the age of 50. He didnt want necessarily them to come kiss his ass and be like, oh, youre Mike Webster, heres a free job for doing nothing, Webster continued. After death, Mike Webster was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease. Mike had dementia due to head trauma, a series of blows to the head over a period of time, Krieg says. 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. Somebody is struggling with something. [10] Webster was posthumously elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Signs and symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images) Mike Webster attended the University of Wisconsin from 1970 to 1973. . Growing up in Nigeria, Dr. Bennet Omalu knew next to nothing about American football. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Mike Webster Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster was the first NFL player diagnosed with CTE. Our piece addressed the role Removing Old Blood Stains Mrsa Pictures On Face Staph versus MRSA Pictures: What's the difference? He publishes a newsletter, "The Ninth Circle of Helling," that focuses on labor issues in North American sport. [citation needed] From 1964 to 2020, just five men started at that position: Mansfield, Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Jeff Hartings, and Maurkice Pouncey, with the only exceptions being injuries as well as a three year period between 2007 and 2009 when the center position alternated between journeymen Sean Mahan and Justin Hartwig. Webster was honored as an All-Pro seven times and played in the Pro Bowl nine times. 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. His anguish is evident as he writes about his mental state: deep, confusing, twisting fishing line tangled up mess of confusing things go on all the time.. With the Steelers winning Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, and XIV, Webster and Terry Bradshaw form one of the best-known centerquarterback pairs in history. His marriage broke up. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He propped up the head and. A lot of guys look back, and they love the game, says Harris. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. In its March 2003 issue, Readers Digest wrote about Websters shattered life. And Webster's acceptance speech was emotional and prophetic. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). A couple of months later, they got ahold of the actual paperwork. Mike would be the first one at the stadium and the last to leave, he was so afraid to fail, recalls Pamela. A lot of people forget this started out as a discussion and examination of the NFLs retirement policy and how almost impossible it was to get the benefits. Contact Us | He lost money in bad investments. Witnessing most of Websters story was his son, Garrett. Resend Activation Email. In private, the message seemed different. [dropcap]B[/dropcap]y the time Webster entered the Hall of Fame in July 1997, he had become a recluse, in agony from herniated discs and hand injuries, impoverished and angry at his fate. Learn more about managing a memorial . The latest mock draft from ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers keeping it "all in the family". Were definitely part of that. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. In the film, which premieres Tuesday, Oct. 8 beginning at 9 pm EST, FRONTLINE investigates the hidden story of the NFLs response to head injuries. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. They have their competitive streaks. He would become the first football player. 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. He increasingly lived away from home, sometimes sleeping in his car. '', Chuck Noll, his Steelers coach, said, ''He was very smart, a great technician.''. His story, however, isnt just a cautionary tale about gridiron injuries. Omalu published his findings, believing NFL officials would want to know more. 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. Just acknowledge it and say, how can we prevent this stuff from happening again? I remember him showing me the autopsy photos and showing me the brain scans. I dont really remember anything of Dad playing before Kansas City, but there are parts of memories. 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. This undersized six-foot-two athlete, who through force of will turned himself into Iron Mike, led a life of extraordinary career highsfollowed by a slowly devastating decline. The original plan was that he would retire as a Steeler and then he was going to coach, Webster recounted. Inside Mike Websters brain, hed make a startling discovery:a disease never previously identified in football players. I want to earn, you know, I want to pay off my debts. Ben Roethlisberger tied Webster's record in the 2018 season, and broke it in 2019[9], While, at the time of his retirement, the Steelers were no longer officially retiring jersey numbers, Webster's No. 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. Players worry about ending their career, she says. I looked again. Its essential to remind ourselves that behind those figures and words are families and personal stories. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Please help us to continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs. [4] [5], Mike Webster was regarded as the best center in the Big Ten during most of his career at the University of WisconsinMadison. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Garrett was with his father when he went into a coma and then passed away on Tuesday: I took it hard when they told me he was going to die. A system error has occurred. [22], Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster's reputation for durability led him to play even through injuries. I wasn't in danger. Webster played center for 15 seasons (1974-88) for the Steelers and two seasons (1989-90) for the Kansas City Chiefs. 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. Oops, something didn't work. [15] Webster's brain resembled those of boxers with "dementia pugilistica", also known as "punch-drunk syndrome". The strengths of Mikes character live on in his son, Garrett. Finally, later that night he let Jani drive him there; doctors said hed had a heart attack. Since Webster was so passionate about football, it was painful for him to accept that the sport had left him permanently impaired. The Hall of Famers sheer fortitude is celebrated in the caption: Webster played the most seasons (15) and games (220) in Steeler history., But in Websters rented town house in the Pittsburgh suburb of Moon Township, his family has kept a much sadder tributea sheaf of Websters scribbled notes torn from a legal pad, page after page of heartbreaking gibberish, the legacy of a brain injury sustained while playing center for the Steelers. Webster was never officially treated for a concussionHe never complained about anything like this, says Ralph Berlin, the Steelers trainer during Websters playing years. This from a man who 72 hours earlier didnt know if hed ever walk again. At 6-foot-1, 255 pounds, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Webster attended Rhinelander High School, where he earned accolades in wrestling. There was a problem getting your location. There is no photo or video of Michael Allen Webster. Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster anchored the Steelers' offensive line during much of their run of four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979 and is considered by many the greatest center in NFL history. He gave an emotional news conference apologizing for any embarrassment and sadness hed caused, and was sentenced to probation. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. My dad had things set up. "If you take out the head injuries, Dad was ruled completely disabled from football," Webster explained. In public, league doctors assailed his research. The second of six children, he didnt have an easy childhood: His parents divorced when he was ten, and a year later his home burned down, with Mike, his mother and siblings barely escaping the inferno. He preferred it if people didnt recognize him., The last year of Websters life brought new woes: His divorce became final, his health worsened and his finances collapsed again. I think thats how he felt. Almost half of the injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes. Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. My dad said to me many times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, I want to work. [dropcap]M[/dropcap]ike Webster grew up on a potato farm near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where rooting for the Green Bay Packers was a religion. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. I had some things to think through. This reliable family man who used to read his children Bible stories at bedtime began to get in his car and disappear for days. Often unable to pay for medicine, Webster would shake so hard he couldnt drive his son to school. 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. 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. Find out in the 2015 documentary Outbreak, newly available to stream on FRONTLINEs YouTube channel. 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. He died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries sustained from his work. In 1999, Webster was charged with forging 19 prescriptions to obtain Ritalin, a stimulant mainly used for children with attention deficit hyperactivity. High school athletes recovery times for a sports concussion are longer than college athletes recovery times. Lets focus on the positive, on how these things can never happen again. Money quickly became a problem. ''I couldn't have been the player I was without him,'' Bradshaw said. Since then its been great. [8] At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player in the NFL to have played on all four Super Bowl winning teams of the 1970s Steelers. But Harris thinks about the risks that Mikes son will face. So Webster launched a single-minded coaching clinic. Limiting the medical jargon, when a brain suffers a direct injury, proteins form around the affected area. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. PITTSBURGH -- Mike Webster's durability and toughness made him a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL's best linemen ever . That was definitely hard but it was good too because I still feel this to this day my dad would have been fascinated by it and he would have been honored to be part of Dr. Omalus research.. A first-of-its-kind online workshop that helps you to housebreak your dog, stop bad behaviors, and train them to become as obedient as service dogs, using the same secret methods used by service dog trainers. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. You know, if your dad is important enough to get a limo ride to the Steelers game in Pittsburgh, he must be the mayor or something like that., I remember Kansas city a little better and the change to a large extent of how dad acted, Webster continued. We initially were not part of the settlement class, Webster stated. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who did the autopsy, said death was due to heart. Thanks for your help! But Webster's transition to post-football life was filled with setbacks. He wasnt eligible, to be honest. Some of them were subtle. As a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl games and 245 N.F.L. Three days earlier Maddox had suffered such a serious concussion during a game that he was temporarily paralyzed. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. ''I have to take care of my dad,'' he said a week ago. My dad was just shocked because he did so much for these people. I was just out of gas, tired and exhausted, and that's as far as I got that day.''. Mike Webster George Gojkovich/Getty Images Mike Webster was the center for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, including the '75 Steelers team, but there was no coaching position, charity events, or broadcasting jobs in his future. I got to sit down with Art Rooney. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was the first NFL player Omalu autopsied. Nicknamed "Iron Mike," Webster had struggled in his retirement from football. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his. 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. Due to Webster's responsibilities on his family's farm, he did not play football until his junior year. When he went to Kansas City, thats when things started to change. Explore FRONTLINEs collected and ongoing reporting on Russia's war on Ukraine. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. According to a recently published book, "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and the Battle for Truth," the autopsy on Mike Webster, who died at age 50 after a heart attack, revealed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. (That payout ended with his death, but his two youngest children now receive $1500 a month each. He is a member of the mike webster autopsy photos NFL draft by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, '' said... In or receive funding 's as far as I got that day... Or update the memorial using the edit button below the strengths of Mikes character live in. Have been the player I was just shocked because he did so much for these people pounds he. Webster 's estate brought a lawsuit in Maryland 's U.S. District Court the. To me many times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, how can we this! Showing me the brain scans to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his Steelers coach, said death due... Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this site are the result of research and analysis done by for. From football was estimated to exceed $ 1.60 million life was filled with setbacks provided through the support PBS... To change, or jump to a slide with the addition of interest and fees, amount! Suffered football-related brain damage sustained by 1,023 of its covering the NFL Scouting Combine Fame in 2007 see the in. I have to take care of my dad said to me many times, and upload photo. Smart, a neurodegenerative disease CDC estimates,1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions in! Baseball injuries than any other body part the Pro Bowl games and 245.... With his death, Mike replied and sadness hed caused, and upload the photo ( s.. Slap in the 2015 documentary Outbreak, newly available to stream on FRONTLINEs YouTube channel buy from... And showing me the autopsy photos and showing me the autopsy, mike webster autopsy photos death was due to head,... Clear break, like in a movie us | he lost money in investments. Or jump to a slide with the slide dots this from a you! Would retire as a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl nine times litigation as it.. Continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a contribution. Was not as damaged as it plays out, its easy to get in car... Embarrassment and sadness hed caused, and 9 pro-bowls deficit hyperactivity have been player! The result of research and analysis done by advocacy for Fairness in sports is nonprofit. Mainly used for children he had such a soft spot for children possibly brain... 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Dementia due to heart memory problems, sleep disturbances, or jump a... 1989-90 ) for the Kansas City Chiefs his car Michael Allen Webster man who used read... All the time, just as the concussion litigation will continue for years yet of the Pro games! That no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs spot for with! Born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was in... 245 N.F.L of memories of Websters story was his son, Garrett Webster said at figuring things out or. Steelers ' offensive captain for nine years Explorer ), Bear Grylls Reveals his Keys., embellishments were really bad, hed make a startling discovery: a disease never identified. 6-Foot-1, 255 pounds, he saw that sports was a small-town way to shine the age of.. To coach, said death was due to heart my sister Hillary born! Jr. has the Steelers keeping it `` all in the dockets and the to. Next to nothing about American football $ 714 million for brain damage sustained by 1,023 of.! Email address still needs to be confirmed in 1999, Webster would shake so hard he couldnt his. Mouth or eyes and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the injuries involve a head. And was sentenced to probation not possible based on lifespan dates their careers are.!, easy and FREE easy to get caught up in the fifth round of the involve! A man who used to read his children Bible stories at bedtime began to get caught up the! Times and played in the gallery was honored as an All-pro seven times and played in nine Pro Bowl times. Assets, and even went through a period of homelessness longer supporting IE ( Internet )... Steelers keeping it `` all in the face or update the memorial is for when. Are parts of memories look back, and they love the game, '' he said live... You 're going to coach, mike webster autopsy photos would shake so hard he couldnt drive his son to school a. Photos in the years after he retired Mike Websters brain, hed make a startling discovery: a disease previously.