After more than a year waiting his turn for a liver transplant, that included several instances of replacement organs being deemed unfit for surgery, Cleveland Browns Bernie Kosar finally underwent life saving surgery to early last week. 

About a week removed from the procedure, Kosar was officially discharged from University Hospitals, feeling energized and grateful for the support he received along the way. 

"In no way did I think I'd be sitting here on Thanksgiving week, victory Monday for the Browns after a victory road win, but even more so, what a real victory it is for me. To be able to come out on Thanksgiving week. Never really been really into my birthdays, my birthday's tomorrow, I didn't even really think I was going to live for my 62nd birthday." 

Kosar revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and cirrhosis of the liver via an interview with Cleveland Magazine back in July of 2024. He had been on a wait list to receive a transplant ever since and suffered a few setbacks in receiving the procedure. On multiple occasions a livers that were a match for Kosar were found to be infected and unfit for transplant surgery.

After undergoing multiple surgeries to control some internal bleeding, Kosar finally received the good news he was waiting for. A local Cleveland family graciously decided to donate the liver of their deceased, 21-year-old son, Bryce Dunlap, who had a medical emergency and sadly died. 

Fittingly, Dunlap was a die-hard Browns fan. 

"That's probably the biggest struggle of it right now. We're still doing this with heavy hearts with what happened with Bryce Dunlap and his family," Kosar told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap in a feature story over the weekend. "I can't tell ya how much my thoughts and prayers are with you. I can't thank you enough. I'm not taking this gift for granted."

Thanks to Dunlap, the Browns' legend gets a second chance at life. Kosar also received plenty of support from the Browns and NFL communities throughout the ordeal, as well. 

To see the people that really cared and are there for ya, I wouldn't be able to be here without all that support," Kosar added upon being discharged. "And when I say on Thanksgiving week, or victory Monday or birthday week 'U Matter,' man do I really mean it this time." 

Kosar is a Browns icon, who spent nine years as the star QB of the franchise between 1985-1993, joining his hometown team through a supplemental trade after he graduating from the University of Miami early. 

He started 105 games before being cut by then-head coach Bill Belichick in the early 90s. Some of the franchise's most successful seasons came on Kosar's watch, as Cleveland made runs to three AFC Championship games between 1986-89.