I was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1987, Garrett Webster said. You couldnt help but take it as a slap in the face. On April 26, 2005, a federal judge ruled that the NFL benefits plan owed Webster's estate $1.18 million in benefits. 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. [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. This is his story. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed on this site are the result of research and analysis done by Advocacy for Fairness in Sports. He wanted to provide support for his family, says Fitzsimmons, who pulled together a raft of supporting medical records, and brought in a psychologist from Marshall University Graduate College, Fred Jay Krieg, to examine Webster. 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. I could feel a pat on my shoulder, almost a whisper in my ear, Everythings going to be all right., On a chill afternoon in November, Steelers owner Dan Rooney sits in his office, fondly recalling Iron Mike. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Hed do it 10 or 20 times to relax., Webster was prescribed Ritalin to control his mood swings, but in 1999, shortly after his regular doctor moved away, the athlete was arrested for forging Ritalin prescriptions. Drag images here or select from your computer for Mike Iron Mike Webster memorial. Hed cut off his sleeves in the freezing cold, zero degrees, to intimidate the other teams, Rooney says with a grin. He didnt watch the games, he didnt know the teams, and he certainly didnt know the name Mike Webster. In high school, Webster moved in with his dad, and went out for wrestling, then football. GREAT NEWS! Mike had dementia due to head trauma, a series of blows to the head over a period of time, Krieg says. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who did the autopsy, said death was due to heart. Brain Injury Research Institute | And Webster's acceptance speech was emotional and prophetic. Privacy Policy. The condition, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, was the first hard evidence that playing football could cause permanent brain damage. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? We recommend our users to update the browser. He got his bell rung all the time, just like the rest of us, says former teammate Rocky Bleier. You have to measure by what you started out with, by what you overcome. Mike Webster, nicknamed - Iron Mike, was an American professional football player who played center for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1988. English This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, he played for 17 seasons, 15 with the Steelers. ''You only fail if you don't finish the game,'' he said. But Webster refused his panicked sons entreaties to go to a hospital, in part because he didnt have insurance. March 10, 1957 - February 24, 2023. The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the meeting process at the NFL Scouting Combine. When it was firm enough, Omalu pulled it out and put took a scalpel to the frontal lobe, cutting. 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. Oops, something didn't work. Some states may prohibit or restrict the solicitation of donations via the Internet or web sites. The father and son slept on the floor, surrounded by pizza boxes. It was in that spirit that Dr. Omalu, then a junior pathologist at the Allegheny County medical examiner's office in Pittsburgh, began an autopsy on a Saturday morning in September 2002. My dad had things set up. But Rooney refuses to believe Websters problems were more than psychological or that he was truly entitled to an NFL disability. I had to make sure the slides were Mike Websters slides, Omalu told FRONTLINE. 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,. Please reset your password. There was a problem getting your location. Our piece addressed the role Removing Old Blood Stains Mrsa Pictures On Face Staph versus MRSA Pictures: What's the difference? Webster was also one of the first former NFL players to be diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). People who play in the NFL, theyre not normal guys. Following his graduation in 1969, Webster committed to the University of WisconsinMadison. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. Using findings from the autopsy, Dr. Bennet Omalu studies the long-term effects of football collisions on Mike Webster's brain. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 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. The Steelers young guard hasnt been great, but he deserves another chance in 2023. boxers, very old people with Alzheimer's disease, Steelers vs. Webster had died of a heart attack at the age of 50. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Im not saying in a concussion way. [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). Mike Webster Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster was the first NFL player diagnosed with CTE. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Bear Grylls Reveals His 6 Keys to Staying Fit at Any Age. But there are some who cant walk, who find it hard to do simple things. Im feeling good, the quarterback says, moving stiffly. High school athletes who sustain a concussion are three times more likely to sustain a second concussion. In the autopsy room, Omalu snapped on his gloves and approached the slab. It was kind of like, whats the point of having something if its basically impossible for people to get a pension? Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. Finally, later that night he let Jani drive him there; doctors said hed had a heart attack. The cause of death was a heart attack, the Pittsburgh Steelers said. 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury. Despite Webster's late start, he quickly learned how to command the offensive line and earned a football scholarship. 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". Colin remembers that his father was shaking so much from his condition that his desperate solution was to buy a police Taser gun. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. As a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl games and 245 N.F.L. So when he came out and said we dont represent Mike Webster. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. You look at the center position as the foundation, says legendary running back Franco Harris. When he got to Kansas City that was a clear break, like in a movie. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Gambling problem? 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. 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.. We couldnt imagine us not being included. 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. Contact Us | But then, Maddox wasnt there at Mike Websters funeral. Biography He was born on March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA, as Michael Lewis Webster. I remember my dads last game at Pittsburgh. After his retirement, Webster suffered from amnesia, dementia, depression, and bone and. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. Verify and try again. a famous neuropathologist, performed an autopsy on Webster's brain in 2002. The son, at 6 feet 9 inches and 340 pounds, is a high school senior and an offensive lineman on his football team. He couldnt concentrate, he had difficulty focusing, the conversation was rambling. Krieg adds there was no other explanation for Websters deterioration; the repeated banging of his brain against his skull had damaged the brains nerve cells. There was an error deleting this problem. 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. Rather, a league doctor would tell him, the trouble was in the implications for football. Learn more about merges. It hurt him. Webster was a pivotal player on the standout Steeler teams that captured four Super Bowl championships in the 1970's. This guy thinks he can come up with an answer, a solid, concrete answer for why Dad struggled so much. He was the Steelers' offensive captain for nine years. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. 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. 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. [2] Webster played during an era when protective equipment (especially helmets) was inferior, and head injuries were simply considered part of the game. Traumatic brain injuries cause 1.5 times more deaths than AIDS. While at the University of Wisconsin on a football scholarship, he met his future wife, Pamela, who worked in the athletic department ticket office. Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was the first NFL player Omalu autopsied. I did some work with a brain injury group. He would become the first football player. 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. 1.5 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries. Mike Webster was a Hall of Fame center who spent 15 of his 17-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. [citation needed], Webster became a free agent following the 1988 season. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. I think my dad to a large extent was so hurt by leaving the Steelers. Steelers legendary center Mike Webster was simply not himself after his career ended. Covering the NFL concussion settlement litigation as it plays out, its easy to get caught up in the dockets and the numbers. ''I don't think it's anybody's business,'' he said of his problems. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Allen Webster (Knoxville, Tennessee), who passed away on February 24, 2023, at the age of 65, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Gary Pomerantz's book "Their Life's Work" details Webster's playing days as well as his final ones, highlighting how Dan Rooney appealed on Webster's behalf for disability benefits - something the league did not immediately grant him. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He experienced fits of rage and confusion, drained his assets, and even went through a period of homelessness. It's sad.''. Webster had always handled their financial affairs, so his wife was startled to discover that he wasnt opening mail, or paying bills, or even filing taxes. I do actively seek out sons, daughters and family members of NFL players. High school athletes recovery times for a sports concussion are longer than college athletes recovery times. He said he was using the drug to treat brain damage caused by repeated head injuries that had led him to behave erratically. Three days earlier Maddox had suffered such a serious concussion during a game that he was temporarily paralyzed. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. But when he died, I felt this calm come over me. 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. Hed open doors for me, hed call when he said hed call. 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. Since Webster was so passionate about football, it was painful for him to accept that the sport had left him permanently impaired. B ennet Omalu, a Nigeria-born neuropathologist, first discovered chronic encephalopathy (CTE) in an NFL player when he saw the debilitating disease in the brain of Mike Webster, the Hall of. 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 cause of death was a heart attack, the Pittsburgh Steelers said. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. ''I'm not seeking a pardon for my actions, and I'm not really asking for your understanding, even though grown men need understanding. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. 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. I just thought he was angry at me all the time.. He publishes a newsletter, "The Ninth Circle of Helling," that focuses on labor issues in North American sport.