Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer has been diagnosed with dementia, he announced on social media.
Kramer, 69, who played 13 of his 14 seasons in the NFL with the Vikings and made the Pro Bowl after leading the league in 1986, posted yesterday on his X account that he had been officially diagnosed with the disorder cognitive a little over a year ago at the Cleveland Clinic as part of a health and wellness program for former NFL players.
Kramer said he was inspired to come forward about his condition after Hall of Famer Brett Favre’s revelations Tuesday that he suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
Kramer said his doctors told him during his exam that the dementia had not progressed and that he had stopped drinking alcohol to better cope.
“Please, no sympathy,” Kramer wrote. I’ve lived a great life and I wouldn’t change a thing. No one wanted to win more than me and I never gave up, and that’s exactly how I’m going to fight. »
Kramer, a native of San Antonio, Texas, was drafted in the first round by the Vikings in 1977. He received the nickname ” Two Minute Tommy » for his successes at the end of the match, notably during a desperation pass (Hail Mary)’s 46-yard touchdown catch in 1980, which was caught one-handed by Ahmad Rashad to cap a victory against the Cleveland Browns to clinch a division title for Minnesota. Kramer had 456 yards and four touchdowns in this game.
