''I am not seeking your pity or sympathy,'' he said at a news conference at the time. Just acknowledge it and say, how can we prevent this stuff from happening again? Later, he was treated for depression and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Mike Webster, 50, Dies; Troubled Football Hall of Famer, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/25/sports/mike-webster-50-dies-troubled-football-hall-of-famer.html. 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. 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. I remember him showing me the autopsy photos and showing me the brain scans. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who did the autopsy, said death was due to heart. Failed to delete memorial. He put on a brave front, though, for his two daughters. He gave an emotional news conference apologizing for any embarrassment and sadness hed caused, and was sentenced to probation. He suffered football-related brain damage in 1999 and several behavioral disturbances were reported in the years after he retired.. He publishes a newsletter, "The Ninth Circle of Helling," that focuses on labor issues in North American sport. . The financial strain couldnt fully explain his increasingly bizarre behavior, however. Just finish the game. I wasn't in danger. 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. Please help us to continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. [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. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. Colin remembers that his father was shaking so much from his condition that his desperate solution was to buy a police Taser gun. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. The NFL appealed the ruling. Struggles adjusting to life after football is a common issue with former players, and Webster, the last of the four-ring Steelers from the 1970s, had a tougher time than most. He exhibited unusual changes in behavior, and became so agitated and restless that he used electroshock weapons on himself to induce sleep. ''I'm not seeking a pardon for my actions, and I'm not really asking for your understanding, even though grown men need understanding. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Some half-dozen times Webster requested an application for disability payments from the NFL, but he never followed through. Signs and symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. Growing up in Nigeria, Dr. Bennet Omalu knew next to nothing about American football. 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. The football stadium at Rhinelander High School, his alma mater, is named Mike Webster Stadium in his honor. He increasingly lived away from home, sometimes sleeping in his car. Michael L. Webster was born March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wis., and was reared on a 640-acre potato farm. Odds & lines subject to change. Other players who retired because of the effects of concussion or other head injuries include Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach, Merril Hoge, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Dave Pear, Wayne Chrebet, and Al Toon. Webster had died of a heart attack at the age of 50. Please consider helping us to continue to provide quality ad-free sports advocacy, journalism, and assistance to athletes. Some of the guys will treat a concussion like a hangnail.. 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. Following his graduation in 1969, Webster committed to the University of WisconsinMadison. It was Omalus job to measure the damage. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports has no intention of violating the laws of any state and, therefore, does not intend to solicit funds in those states that prohibit or restrict such solicitations. Since then its been great. Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Hed open doors for me, hed call when he said hed call. Try again later. Biography He was born on March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA, as Michael Lewis Webster. 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. I couldnt leave him in that situation, Garrett recalls. [15] Webster's brain resembled those of boxers with "dementia pugilistica", also known as "punch-drunk syndrome". Send Flowers. ''I'm not destitute.'' The family of late football great Mike Webster has been shut out of settlement money. [/pullquote]. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Nicknamed "Iron Mike," Webster had struggled in his retirement from football. Then they were talking about how theyve gotten that by not giving pensions out. This from a man who 72 hours earlier didnt know if hed ever walk again. 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. 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. Its the number one cause of death in children and young adults. Webster - aka 'Iron Mike' - died of a heart attack in 2002. He was a union rep for a long time. He was an undersized 225-pound center at the University of Wisconsin who lingered in the N.F.L. They cant go out in public like normal people and stuff like that.. Leah Gray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding . 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Bad investment deals drained his assets and his rising anger and confusion, according to his wife, led to fits of rage. Dad was never a part of those, even when he was alive. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Frontline shows a photo of Webster's body on a table at the coroner's office in Pittsburgh . This account has been disabled. He earned $16,000 in his first season, $400,000 in his last. Also like the others, he tried to shrug it off. High school athletes who sustain a concussion are three times more likely to sustain a second concussion. He didnt watch the games, he didnt know the teams, and he certainly didnt know the name Mike Webster. Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery. Since then we have had some positive instances, in the past couple of years, but overall its been the same thing, over and over again is that instead of people being like this is great, we know about this now so lets fix it, its been more of that asshole ruined things for everybody, you know, and thats, you know, that continues to be the hardest part.. After death, Mike Webster was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease. An athlete who sustains concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. You can find out when League of Denial airs on your local PBS station here. I was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1987, Garrett Webster said. 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. [2] Since his death, he has become a symbol for head injuries in the NFL and the ongoing debate over player safety. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. I wasn't broke. [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. Thanks for your help! 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. 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. It was kind of like, whats the point of having something if its basically impossible for people to get a pension? I think my dad to a large extent was so hurt by leaving the Steelers. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. For years prior to his death, he battled symptoms resembling depression, dementia, and amnesia. ), [pullquote] There was no other explanation for Websters deterioration; the repeated banging of his brain against his skull had damaged the brains nerve cells. Omalu's findings were largely ignored by the NFL until Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was diagnosed with CTE shortly after his death in 2009. Prosecutors just showed an image of Michael Jackson 's dead, naked body sprawled on a gurney -- taken hours after the singer died. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. An avid weightlifter, Webster was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves. He lived out of his pickup truck or in train stations between Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, even though his friends and former teammates offered to rent apartments for him. ''If you finish, you won. But doctors say he suffered multiple concussions, among his many other injuries, on his way to gridiron glory. The cause of death was a heart attack, the Pittsburgh Steelers said. High school athletes recovery times for a sports concussion are longer than college athletes recovery times. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Jani began to handle the increasingly frequent crises, bailing Webster out of awkward jams. But I do promise you this: No matter what happens, I will answer the charges. Eventually, the judge did go back and let us basically appeal that, but it was like being stuck in limbo. We recommend our users to update the browser. But Webster tried to reassure people that his life was not as damaged as it seemed. Iron Mike Webster played in the NFL between 1974 and 1990, winning four Super Bowls The price of that glory would not become apparent until Webster died aged just 50 the NFL are counting. Webster was never officially treated for a concussionHe never complained about anything like this, says Ralph Berlin, the Steelers trainer during Websters playing years. Rather, a league doctor would tell him, the trouble was in the implications for football. It was a psychological blow on top of all the physical and mental issues he was going through.. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 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. Thats what shocked us. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, he played for 17 seasons, 15 with the Steelers. He didn't play high school ball until his junior year, but won a scholarship to Wisconsin. My dad said to me many times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, I want to work. 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. But there are some who cant walk, who find it hard to do simple things. He would become the first football player. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. [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. '', See the article in its original context from. 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. Negotiation, NFL Players Forfeit Important Legal Rights in New CBA, Open Letter to NFLPA from Ivan F. Soto, Executive Director AFLPU, Real Sports Podcast Lays Bare How Washington Commanders Staff Terrorized Women On The Job, Russell Okung Continues to Fight the Good Fight, The 1985 Chicago Bears: A Legacy of Glory and of Pain, The Conversation Robert Kraft Should Be Having With Gronk, The Proposed NFL CBA is a 456-Page Legal Defense Strategy, Unpacking Roger Goodells Statement on the Death of George Floyd. Im mad about whats happened to you, about the life you kids missed out on. During that time, none of us thought he had this revolutionary condition that was going to change the world. [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. Everybody noticed that with Dad. 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. He tried to stay low-key, says Moon Area High Schools football coach Mark Capuano. [dropcap]M[/dropcap]ike Webster grew up on a potato farm near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where rooting for the Green Bay Packers was a religion. 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. The strengths of Mikes character live on in his son, Garrett. 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.. Webster recounts the frustration and struggles. When I was young, he said he wanted me to be somebody, like a lawyer, says Garrett, who moved in with his father three years ago. Serving as a backup at center and guard for two years while being mentored by veteran center Ray Mansfield, Webster became the team's starting center in 1976, where he remained for 150 consecutive games. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, he played for 17 seasons, 15 with the Steelers. [citation needed], At the time of his death, Webster was addicted to prescription medication. 5% of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their sport. [13] Nonetheless, Webster continued to disappear for weeks at a time without explanation and without contact with friends and family. [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. The son, at 6 feet 9 inches and 340 pounds, is a high school senior and an offensive lineman on his football team. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. He invited me in. [12] With the addition of interest and fees, that amount was estimated to exceed $1.60 million. Hall of Fame offensive lineman Mike Webster was the first former NFL player to be diagnosed with CTE. Webster grew up on a 640-acre potato farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin. '', ''It doesn't get better,'' Krieg added. He died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries sustained from his work. 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. 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. On April 26, 2005, a federal judge ruled that the NFL benefits plan owed Webster's estate $1.18 million in benefits. 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. Money quickly became a problem. 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. Webster is seen as an example of the difficulties American football players suffer when their careers are over. 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. And why it wasnt stopped sooner. March 10, 1957 - February 24, 2023. . Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his. The patient on the table was Mike Webster, a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the autopsy room, Omalu snapped on his gloves and approached the slab. Inside Mike Websters brain, hed make a startling discovery:a disease never previously identified in football players. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. Indirectly, football was his life, and it was what cost him his life. 1.5 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries. I want to earn, you know, I want to pay off my debts. Obviously there are times when things are in the news you cant avoid. Instead, it further compounded the struggles. We have set your language to He was 50. "If you take out the head injuries, Dad was ruled completely disabled from football," Webster explained. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. 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. Professional Football Player. 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. 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. I want to work for a living, I want to earn my keep and stuff like that. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I dont think he cared about being a hero, he just liked the game.. In its March 2003 issue, Readers Digest wrote about Websters shattered life. games, including 177 in a row. [citation needed]. I did some work with a brain injury group. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary Steelers center. We all worked hard, but none as hard as Mike did. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 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. The latest mock draft from ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers keeping it "all in the family". TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. 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. Follow @NealCoolong Search above to list available cemeteries. If you take out the head injuries, Dad was ruled completely disabled from football, Webster explained. He taught his son plays, watched game tapes with him, even tried to run with him despite knee and back injuries. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Lets focus on the positive, on how these things can never happen again. '', During that same period, Dr. Fred Jay Krieg, a clinical psychologist, said Webster had ''the football version of punch drunk. It was too late to undo the harm, however, just as it was too late to dissuade his son Garrett from playing. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=f6da93d0-6850-44b9-a6b9-f62dcef33270&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "f6da93d0-6850-44b9-a6b9-f62dcef33270" }).render("a62a84b67add450880a65f158730a944"); }); The years of being butted repeatedly on the head took a brutal toll. At the time of his retirement, he had played more seasons as a Steeler than anyone else in franchise history (15 seasons), one season ahead of Terry Bradshaw and Hines Ward. Brain Injury Research Institute |