We recommend our users to update the browser. 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. Please reset your password. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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, died yesterday in a Pittsburgh hospital. 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. Webster - aka 'Iron Mike' - died of a heart attack in 2002. [10] Webster was posthumously elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Try again later. This psychological aspect of just being ignored was the hardest part and what we had to keep reliving. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. '', See the article in its original context from. Those proteins are seen through a microscope as red specs. 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. He was an undersized 225-pound center at the University of Wisconsin who lingered in the N.F.L. 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. Documenting evidence of potential war crimes in Ukraine. 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. Of the 22 players who were part of all four Steeler Super Bowl teams, Webster was the last to leave and the first to die. The father and son slept on the floor, surrounded by pizza boxes. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. Its a saga about a man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but who lost the relationships he prized most. Ive been in 350,000 car accidents, Mike replied. It's sad.''. 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. Why the Steelers shouldnt give up on Kevin Dotson. 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. Follow @NealCoolong Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. Like in the Concussion movie, he had spent years battling depression, dementia, amnesia, and severe back pain. 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. Webster grew up on a 640-acre potato farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. They have their competitive streaks. ''I am not seeking your pity or sympathy,'' he said at a news conference at the time. Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to complete recovery. 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. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary Steelers center. Webster recounts the frustration and struggles. Webster was a pivotal player on the standout Steeler teams that captured four Super Bowl championships in the 1970's. Webster was never officially treated for a concussionHe never complained about anything like this, says Ralph Berlin, the Steelers trainer during Websters playing years. Garrett shared his experiences of his late father, going through the initial stages of the NFL settlement, the familys relationship with the NFL/Steelers and the community of families who have similarly been affected by neurological diseases. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. ''I couldn't have been the player I was without him,'' Bradshaw said. 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. The latest mock draft from ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers keeping it "all in the family". This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images) Mike Webster attended the University of Wisconsin from 1970 to 1973. . 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. The date on the tiles beside his body appears to read August. Everybody noticed that with Dad. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. People who play in the NFL, theyre not normal guys. [12] With the addition of interest and fees, that amount was estimated to exceed $1.60 million. I wasn't in danger. He was 50. The following years were rough for Websters family as his fathers cognitive decline affected his ability to provide for the family. You're going to fail -- I did -- but that's O.K. He also relished his indestructible image. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. In September 1999, Webster pleaded no contest to the forgery charges and was placed on probation for five years. https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. Try again later. Between 2001-2005, children and youth ages 5-18 years old accounted for 2.4 million sports-related emergency department (ED) visits annually, of which 6% (135,000) involved a concussion. 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. Despite Webster's late start, he quickly learned how to command the offensive line and earned a football scholarship. based on information from your browser. [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. Michael L. Webster was born March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wis., and was reared on a 640-acre potato farm. Dr. Omalu was very responsible and he did things right away. Just finish the game. In a rare move, they demanded a retraction. 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. In 1999, Webster was charged with forging 19 prescriptions to obtain Ritalin, a stimulant mainly used for children with attention deficit hyperactivity. [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. 52 has not been reissued by the team since he retired. He taught his son plays, watched game tapes with him, even tried to run with him despite knee and back injuries. The book's author. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? We all worked hard, but none as hard as Mike did. Im feeling good, the quarterback says, moving stiffly. 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 some as the best center in NFL history. I dont think he cared about being a hero, he just liked the game.. As a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl games and 245 N.F.L. [21] Webster's son Garrett now serves as the administrator to the Brain Injury Research Institute in Pittsburgh, which is dedicated to encouraging individuals who have had head trauma to donate their brains after death as well as being an advocate to players who have similar conditions that his father had. [/pullquote]. [11], Webster was proven to have been disabled before retiring from the NFL. But as the weekend progressed he complained of feeling ghastly. Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his 2nd year of elgibility. Webster was also one of the first former NFL players to be diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Webster is now happy to share that his familys relationship with the Steelers has improved, however, his opinion of the leagues handling of the concussion settlement hasnt similarly improved. Verify and try again. [22], Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster's reputation for durability led him to play even through injuries. And Webster's acceptance speech was emotional and prophetic. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Somebody is struggling with something. This account has been disabled. 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. An athlete who sustains concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. An ESPN series documented Webster missing his son's 10th birthday after taking a cocktail of narcotics; repeatedly stunning himself to sleep with a Taser gun; screaming at strangers at the Amtrak. Obviously there are times when things are in the news you cant avoid. Omalu noted that Webster's brain didn't look like any fifty-year old that he ever examined as he . 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.. Weve updated the security on the site. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. He got his bell rung all the time, just like the rest of us, says former teammate Rocky Bleier. The work of helping former NFL players with head injuries is ongoing, just as the concussion litigation will continue for years yet. He experienced fits of rage and confusion, drained his assets, and even went through a period of homelessness. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Professional Football Player. 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. He noted that Mike Webster's body was sixty-nine inches long and weighed 244 pounds. But Webster refused his panicked sons entreaties to go to a hospital, in part because he didnt have insurance. You cant help but wonder, is it worth it?. Please consider helping us to continue to provide quality ad-free sports advocacy, journalism, and assistance to athletes. [2] Since his death, he has become a symbol for head injuries in the NFL and the ongoing debate over player safety. 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