Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Webster recounts the frustration and struggles. Dad was never a part of those, even when he was alive. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Search above to list available cemeteries. 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. If you take out the head injuries, Dad was ruled completely disabled from football, Webster explained. Rather, a league doctor would tell him, the trouble was in the implications for football. There's a broad definition of what living out of your car is. Since 2017, the National Football League has paid $714 million for brain damage sustained by 1,023 of its. Failed to remove flower. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. I didnt realize he had a brain injury, says Pamela. 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. During that time, none of us thought he had this revolutionary condition that was going to change the world. And the beating left its own legacy. I remember going to the Steelers locker room. In 1999, Webster was charged with forging 19 prescriptions to obtain Ritalin, a stimulant mainly used for children with attention deficit hyperactivity. Bruce Willis Condition, Explained. The Steelers young guard hasnt been great, but he deserves another chance in 2023. boxers, very old people with Alzheimer's disease, Steelers vs. And I don't want their pity. 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. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 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. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . He increasingly lived away from home, sometimes sleeping in his car. Grieving teammates were, and they felt shaken by this glimpse of their own mortality. Mike Webster Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster was the first NFL player diagnosed with CTE. 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. Greenwood 11 a.m. Monday, Steelers 2023 Pre-NFL Draft visit Tracker, Steelers ticket prices holding steady for 2023, Explaining the differences in ruling a touchdown in the NFL. Its a saga about a man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but who lost the relationships he prized most. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 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Please help us to continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs. I want to work for a living, I want to earn my keep and stuff like that. . Brain Injury Research Institute | I was born in 1984 and my sister Hillary was born in 1987, Garrett Webster said. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. [/pullquote]. ''I'm not seeking a pardon for my actions, and I'm not really asking for your understanding, even though grown men need understanding. He played 17 years in the NFL, some said it was a few years too many, especially the final ones with the Kansas City Chiefs. You have to measure by what you started out with, by what you overcome. 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. Oops, something didn't work. In the autopsy room, Omalu snapped on his gloves and approached the slab. Among children and youth ages 5-18 years old, the five leading sports or recreational activities which account for concussions include: bicycling, football, basketball, playground activities, and soccer. Following his graduation in 1969, Webster committed to the University of WisconsinMadison. He was my hero, says Jani, who owns a grocery store and sports-memorabilia shop. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). [4] [5], Mike Webster was regarded as the best center in the Big Ten during most of his career at the University of WisconsinMadison. Mike Webster, nicknamed "Iron Mike," was a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers who passed away of a heart attack in 2002 at age 50. English The work of helping former NFL players with head injuries is ongoing, just as the concussion litigation will continue for years yet. [12] After retirement, Webster had amnesia, dementia, depression, and acute bone and muscular pain. [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. Webster was a pivotal player on the standout Steeler teams that captured four Super Bowl championships in the 1970's. Leah Gray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding . They cant go out in public like normal people and stuff like that.. Its essential to remind ourselves that behind those figures and words are families and personal stories. Some of them were subtle. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. He didnt want a handout. Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. '', ''It doesn't get better,'' Krieg added. He died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries sustained from his work. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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. While at the University of Wisconsin on a football scholarship, he met his future wife, Pamela, who worked in the athletic department ticket office. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Almost half of the injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes. Nothing on this site should be perceived as legal advice. There was a problem getting your location. Michael Allen Webster. It hurt him. The latest mock draft from ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers keeping it "all in the family". Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8945061/mike-webster. Webster played center for 15 seasons (1974-88) for the Steelers and two seasons (1989-90) for the Kansas City Chiefs. Webster was portrayed by David Morse and Dr. Bennet Omalu was portrayed by Will Smith. Webster is also survived by two sons, Colin of Camp LeJeune, N.C., and Garrett; two daughters, Hillary and Brooke; two grandchildren; his father, William, of Harshaw, Wis.; two brothers, Reid and Joe Webster; and two sisters, Wendy and Jane Webster. Colin remembers that his father was shaking so much from his condition that his desperate solution was to buy a police Taser gun. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. [12] With the addition of interest and fees, that amount was estimated to exceed $1.60 million. So when he came out and said we dont represent Mike Webster. Signs and symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. 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. Witnessing most of Websters story was his son, Garrett. Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was the first NFL player Omalu autopsied. ''I couldn't have been the player I was without him,'' Bradshaw said. Eventually, the judge did go back and let us basically appeal that, but it was like being stuck in limbo. On one occasion, Webster showed up at a game on crutches, with torn cartilage in his knee, played anyway and had surgery afterward. I remember the NFLPA bragging about how they had something like $10 billion in their retirement fund. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997. Were definitely part of that. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? ''I have to take care of my dad,'' he said a week ago. After death, Mike Webster was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He tried to stay low-key, says Moon Area High Schools football coach Mark Capuano. Later, he was treated for depression and symptoms of congestive heart failure. As a Steeler, he played in nine Pro Bowl games and 245 N.F.L. When he went to Kansas City, thats when things started to change. This account has been disabled. https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. Mike would be the first one at the stadium and the last to leave, he was so afraid to fail, recalls Pamela. I remember my dads last game at Pittsburgh. Webster had died of a heart attack at the age of 50. ''I'm not destitute.'' ike 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 him showing me the autopsy photos and showing me the brain scans. Everybody noticed that with Dad. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. He had been receiving money from annuities and the disability paymentmuch of it went to alimony and child supportbut the IRS then garnished almost all of his income for unpaid taxes. We talked and we talked frankly. 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. He experienced fits of rage and confusion, drained his assets, and even went through a period of homelessness. A lot of guys look back, and they love the game, says Harris. March 10, 1957 - February 24, 2023. He couldnt sleep the night before a game, he was so wound up, says Bill Webster, Mikes father. 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. 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. 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. ). Everybody gets injured, but most injuries arent reported, says Miki Yaras-Davis, director of benefits at the NFL Players Association. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Please try again later. Site Map | Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. Jani began to handle the increasingly frequent crises, bailing Webster out of awkward jams. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. He played in 4 superbowls, All-pro 7 years, All AFC 5 times, and 9 pro-bowls. 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. [3], Webster was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin on March 18, 1952 as the second child of six children. 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. 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. Everybody in the family: my mom, my older brothers and sisters, my older brother and my older sister will say that. He would become the first football player. 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. Try again later. People who play in the NFL, theyre not normal guys. Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. It's sad.''. Webster grew up on a 640-acre potato farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin. [/pullquote]. Webster, who anchored the Pittsburgh offensive line through a dominant stretch of the middle and late 1970s, passed in 2002. 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. Professional Football Player. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. NFL Player Accuses Union Leaders of Bad Faith C.B.A. Mike Webster, nicknamed - Iron Mike, was an American professional football player who played center for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1988. This browser does not support getting your location. 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. ''I don't think it's anybody's business,'' he said of his problems. I think that he was surprised there was no help. He receives funding from various academic and research organisations. 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. Former colleagues soon began to hear disturbing stories about him, but no one knew what was wrong, and Webster was mystified and frustrated himself, embarrassed that he couldnt seem to hold a job or even remember scheduled meetings. He earned $16,000 in his first season, $400,000 in his last. Have you ever been in a car accident? the doctor asked. The son, at 6 feet 9 inches and 340 pounds, is a high school senior and an offensive lineman on his football team. 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. He was the Steelers' offensive captain for nine years. Thats what shocked us. Two Very Different NFLs for Andrew Luck and Amon Gordon, Andrew Lucks retirement, and pain he endured, hit close to home for former Charger, Brain Injury Casts a Dark Cloud Over NFLs 100th Season, New Report Projects Minimum 10% of NFL Players will Develop CTE, Tamarick Vanover chronicles classic story of disposable NFL players, The story of Bill Cesare demonstrates how little the NFL and NFLPA do to take care of former players, The Story of an NFL Wife a Conversation with Cyndy Feasel. He was 50. Webster's erratic habits and continued absences contributed to a breakup of his marriage, and his former wife, Pamela, said she had to sell their house and car and take a job as a cleaning woman. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. They have their quirks, they have their workout routines. As a neuropathologist, Omalu was especially interested in the brain. Prosecutors just showed an image of Michael Jackson 's dead, naked body sprawled on a gurney -- taken hours after the singer died. But when he died, I felt this calm come over me. It was a psychological blow on top of all the physical and mental issues he was going through.. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Everybody gets hurt in football, he says, but very few players get hurt permanently. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who did the autopsy, said death was due to heart. 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