). 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury. In its March 2003 issue, Readers Digest wrote about Websters shattered life. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Try again later. One of the individuals who was instrumental in beginning the story was former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Mike Webster through his family. You look at the center position as the foundation, says legendary running back Franco Harris. While Dr. Omalu provided answers regarding Mikes behavioral and neurological issues, the concussion settlement in 2013 did anything but for the Webster family. Finally, later that night he let Jani drive him there; doctors said hed had a heart attack. High school athletes recovery times for a sports concussion are longer than college athletes recovery times. Websters finances remain a muddle, but from conversations with his family and lawyers, it appears he poured most of his savings into investments that went bad. He got his bell rung all the time, just like the rest of us, says former teammate Rocky Bleier. Failed to remove flower. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. But Webster refused his panicked sons entreaties to go to a hospital, in part because he didnt have insurance. And yes, I slept in a train station one time. Prosecutors just showed an image of Michael Jackson 's dead, naked body sprawled on a gurney -- taken hours after the singer died. The Steelers now-retired public-relations man Joe Gordon says, I got a call from the manager of the Amtrak station, saying Mike is here and he slept here last night. Gordon found Webster there, poring over brochures and talking excitedly about a plan to market celebrity photosThis could be bigbut he had no place to sleep. Why the Steelers shouldnt give up on Kevin Dotson. 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. Gambling problem? I wasn't in danger. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. In 1999, he was ranked number 75 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. I didnt realize he had a brain injury, says Pamela. My dad had things set up. Webster's doctors said that the concussions Webster had in his career had indeed damaged his frontal lobe, causing cognitive dysfunction, and that his attention span and concentration had been affected. 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly. Over the years he picked up expenses for the financially beleaguered Webster and even paid for almost all of his $7,600 funeral. 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. In 1997, just before his Hall of Fame induction, his troubled life became public, and he told The Atlanta Journal and Constitution: ''Because of all this publicity over my situation, people treat me like I'm dying or something. Omalus conclusions confused the medical literature, they argued. 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,. [4] [5], Mike Webster was regarded as the best center in the Big Ten during most of his career at the University of WisconsinMadison. Just acknowledge it and say, how can we prevent this stuff from happening again? 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. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. But I do promise you this: No matter what happens, I will answer the charges. Associated Press. 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. But Webster tried to reassure people that his life was not as damaged as it seemed. 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. Omalu described Webster's brain as one of "boxers, very old people with Alzheimer's disease or someone who had suffered a severe head wound.". Odds & lines subject to change. He put on a brave front, though, for his two daughters. 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. An avid weightlifter, Webster was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves. Mike Webster autopsy 'one of the most significant moments in the history ofsports', Kiper Mock Draft: 3 1st Round trades has a familiar name falling to the Steelers. 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. Webster is seen as an example of the difficulties American football players suffer when their careers are over. The book's author. 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. [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. ''You only fail if you don't finish the game,'' he said. Obviously there are times when things are in the news you cant avoid. Leave a memory Light a Candle. I think thats how he felt. But doctors say he suffered multiple concussions, among his many other injuries, on his way to gridiron glory. . [23], For the former Canadian Football League player, see. ''If you finish, you won. Webster was never officially treated for a concussionHe never complained about anything like this, says Ralph Berlin, the Steelers trainer during Websters playing years. Im feeling good, the quarterback says, moving stiffly. ''I have to take care of my dad,'' he said a week ago. Webster - aka 'Iron Mike' - died of a heart attack in 2002. Contrary to rumors, Webster never admitted to using anabolic steroids during his career, even though they were legal at the time. On December 13, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, upheld the Baltimore federal judge's 2005 ruling that the league's retirement plan must pay benefits reserved for players whose disabilities began while they were still playing football. Year should not be greater than current year. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The patient on the table was Mike Webster, a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ''I'm not destitute.'' 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. 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. On one occasion, Webster showed up at a game on crutches, with torn cartilage in his knee, played anyway and had surgery afterward. But Webster's transition to post-football life was filled with setbacks. A system error has occurred. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. [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). I do actively seek out sons, daughters and family members of NFL players. He didnt want a handout. [/pullquote]. His struggle with mental illness, as a result of CTE, at the end of his life was depicted in the 2015 film Concussion. Like in the Concussion movie, he had spent years battling depression, dementia, amnesia, and severe back pain. That morning, on a stainless steel autopsy table inside the Allegheny County coroner's office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, lay the body of Mike Webster, the legendary center of the Pittsburgh . Even as a young boy, he saw that sports was a small-town way to shine. During that time, none of us thought he had this revolutionary condition that was going to change the world. They cant go out in public like normal people and stuff like that.. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Bear Grylls Reveals His 6 Keys to Staying Fit at Any Age. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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. In 1999, Webster was charged with forging 19 prescriptions to obtain Ritalin, a stimulant mainly used for children with attention deficit hyperactivity. I just thought he was angry at me all the time.. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Former Steeler Webster dies at age 50. 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. Derek Helling is a journalist out of Chicago. '', See the article in its original context from. 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. Its a saga about a man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but who lost the relationships he prized most. And Webster's acceptance speech was emotional and prophetic. 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. Bruce Willis Condition, Explained. ''I am not seeking your pity or sympathy,'' he said at a news conference at the time. I dont think he cared about being a hero, he just liked the game.. 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. Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his 2nd year of elgibility. He died in 2002 at age 50, and he was the focus of the 2015 movie, Concussion.. There is no photo or video of Michael Allen Webster. Michael L. Webster was born March 18, 1952, in Tomahawk, Wis., and was reared on a 640-acre potato farm. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was the first NFL player Omalu autopsied. Webster was honored as an All-Pro seven times and played in the Pro Bowl nine times. 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. 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. See our ethics statement. Mike Webster died of a heart attack at age 50 on September 24, 2002, at a Pittsburgh hospital. It started with Mike Webster's brain. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8945061/mike-webster. Up to 86% of athletes that suffer a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of headache pain. In a rare move, they demanded a retraction. 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. Things in general, they're getting a lot better. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Webster, who anchored the Pittsburgh offensive line through a dominant stretch of the middle and late 1970s, passed in 2002. When Webster was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he chose Bradshaw to present him. 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. I couldnt leave him in that situation, Garrett recalls. The financial strain couldnt fully explain his increasingly bizarre behavior, however. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Mike was also on the sidelines at every game. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary Steelers center. The strengths of Mikes character live on in his son, Garrett. He said he was using the drug to treat brain damage caused by repeated head injuries that had led him to behave erratically. He was responsible and did things the right way. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Im not saying in a concussion way. Thats when, as Pamela says, Mike changed. He seemed physically disoriented and started to behave strangely. [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. Later, he was treated for depression and symptoms of congestive heart failure. But Harris thinks about the risks that Mikes son will face. '', At the time, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Webster was ''homeless, unemployed, deep in debt, beset with medical ailments, lacking health insurance, in the midst of divorce, in the care of a psychiatrist and on medication, and involved in a complex lawsuit over real estate investments.''. Money quickly became a problem. Jets: Everything you need to know, Ryan Clark thinks Steelers will make the playoffs, Steelers Injury Report: Markus Wheaton out for Week 6 vs. I want to earn, you know, I want to pay off my debts. The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the meeting process at the NFL Scouting Combine. When People Show Who They Are, Believe Them. When we heard about it, it sounded wonderful. Webster was a pivotal player on the standout Steeler teams that captured four Super Bowl championships in the 1970's. In high school, Webster moved in with his dad, and went out for wrestling, then football. Frontline shows a photo of Webster's body on a table at the coroner's office in Pittsburgh . 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. 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