* 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Witnessing most of Websters story was his son, Garrett. My dad said to me many times, especially when things were really bad, hed say, I want to work. Elected to football Hall of Fame in 1997, his. Webster has firsthand experience of how devastating diseases like CTE can be on entire families and because of that, he not only wants to work toward preventing it from happening to others but support those who are enduring the pain as he did. [23], For the former Canadian Football League player, see. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. I couldnt leave him in that situation, Garrett recalls. [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. I looked again. Following his graduation in 1969, Webster committed to the University of WisconsinMadison. [12] After retirement, Webster had amnesia, dementia, depression, and acute bone and muscular pain. That was definitely hard but it was good too because I still feel this to this day my dad would have been fascinated by it and he would have been honored to be part of Dr. Omalus research.. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. When he needed help, during the whole time when we were suing for that original pension, the NFLPA, the people who were supposed to represent the players, that guys like Dad paid into their pension to support, never reached out, never said, hey Mike, what can we do for you?, If anything the union was in the way of my dad getting his pensions, Webster added. I think that all athletes and anybody whos been in an all-consuming career field, once thats over, they deal with a part in their life in which they are aimless. When he got to Kansas City that was a clear break, like in a movie. Court documents arent free, and you can be a difference-maker by helping us to meet the expenses necessary to remain ad-free and provide the coverage youve come to expect over the past three years. I wasn't in danger. He exhibited unusual changes in behavior, and became so agitated and restless that he used electroshock weapons on himself to induce sleep. Drag images here or select from your computer for Mike Iron Mike Webster 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. I had some things to think through. Mike had dementia due to head trauma, a series of blows to the head over a period of time, Krieg says. In Will Smiths movie Concussion, the actor portrays the pathologist Bennet Omalu, who first revealed proof of footballs deleterious effects on players brains and published breakthrough papers in medical journals on the degenerative brain disease he discovered, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Please help us to continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs. A first-of-its-kind online workshop that helps you to housebreak your dog, stop bad behaviors, and train them to become as obedient as service dogs, using the same secret methods used by service dog trainers. He didnt want necessarily them to come kiss his ass and be like, oh, youre Mike Webster, heres a free job for doing nothing, Webster continued. Mike would call at 2 a.m. and say hes lost. Webster saw a slew of doctors during this period in the mid-90s, including one who told him he appeared to be brain-damaged. In high school, Webster moved in with his dad, and went out for wrestling, then football. Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The cause of death was a heart attack, the Pittsburgh Steelers said. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Since then its been great. Mike was a guy you could always count on., [pullquote] Year after year, Webster slammed into much bigger players, their helmets crashing into his like battering rams, their forearms pounding his head. All these guys were talking at the funeral about maybe they should get checkups, says Franco Harris. When People Show Who They Are, Believe Them. They have their competitive streaks. Its a saga about a man who was loved deeply by family and friends, but who lost the relationships he prized most. 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. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Bear Grylls Reveals His 6 Keys to Staying Fit at Any Age. 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. Everybody gets injured, but most injuries arent reported, says Miki Yaras-Davis, director of benefits at the NFL Players Association. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports is a nonprofit dedicated to investigative sports journalism. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. He propped up the head and. The son, at 6 feet 9 inches and 340 pounds, is a high school senior and an offensive lineman on his football team. They cant go out in public like normal people and stuff like that.. The second of six children, he didnt have an easy childhood: His parents divorced when he was ten, and a year later his home burned down, with Mike, his mother and siblings barely escaping the inferno. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Pittsburgh steeler center mike Webster was the first nfl player omalu autopsied. You can always change this later in your Account settings. This is a carousel with slides. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? An avid weightlifter, Webster was known for playing with bare arms to keep opponents from grabbing his sleeves. And yes, I slept in a train station one time. That stuff gets passed on through the grapevine. The original plan was that he would retire as a Steeler and then he was going to coach, Webster recounted. His marriage broke up. Leah Gray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding . But Rooney refuses to believe Websters problems were more than psychological or that he was truly entitled to an NFL disability. Finally, later that night he let Jani drive him there; doctors said hed had a heart attack. '', See the article in its original context from. 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. Jets: Everything you need to know, Ryan Clark thinks Steelers will make the playoffs, Steelers Injury Report: Markus Wheaton out for Week 6 vs. At the teams expense, Webster was put up for six weeks at the Pittsburgh Hilton, before decamping to a $25-a-night joint. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=f6da93d0-6850-44b9-a6b9-f62dcef33270&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "f6da93d0-6850-44b9-a6b9-f62dcef33270" }).render("a62a84b67add450880a65f158730a944"); }); The years of being butted repeatedly on the head took a brutal toll. In October 1999, Webster was awarded an NFL disability for traumatic brain injury. Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. 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. According to CDC estimates,1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the United States each year. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. My dad was just shocked because he did so much for these people. Since 2017, the National Football League has paid $714 million for brain damage sustained by 1,023 of its. Add to your scrapbook. I was just out of gas, tired and exhausted, and that's as far as I got that day.''. Webster recounts the frustration and struggles. 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. 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. Associated Press. Michael Lewis "Mike" Webster was an American football player who played as a center in the National Football League from 1974 to 1990 with the Pittsburgh Ste. Whats Next in the Face-Off Between Kaepernick and the NFL? Brain Injury Research Institute | I do actively seek out sons, daughters and family members of NFL players. Try again later. I dont really remember anything of Dad playing before Kansas City, but there are parts of memories. [15] Webster's brain resembled those of boxers with "dementia pugilistica", also known as "punch-drunk syndrome". 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. I dont think he cared about being a hero, he just liked the game.. [2] Since his death, he has become a symbol for head injuries in the NFL and the ongoing debate over player safety. Just finish the game. Jani began to handle the increasingly frequent crises, bailing Webster out of awkward jams. After Mike's 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. Later, he was treated for depression and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Hed zap himself to calm his nerves. It was too late to undo the harm, however, just as it was too late to dissuade his son Garrett from playing. Thanks for your help! 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,. Using findings from the autopsy, Dr. Bennet Omalu studies the long-term effects of football collisions on Mike Webster's brain. [/pullquote]. 1.5 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries. GREAT NEWS! An athlete who sustains concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion. ''I don't think it's anybody's business,'' he said of his problems. When we heard about it, it sounded wonderful. 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 . 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. 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. 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. His struggle with mental illness, as a result of CTE, at the end of his life was depicted in the 2015 film Concussion. 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. [2] His doctors were of the opinion that multiple concussions during his career damaged his frontal lobe, which caused cognitive dysfunction. You cant help but wonder, is it worth it?. His toughness made him a winner: He was voted onto the All-Pro team six straight years, won four Super Bowl rings, and joined the greatest players ever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I saw changes that shouldnt be in a 50-year-old mans brains, and also changes that shouldnt be in a brain that looked normal.. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. We have set your language to Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. You have to measure by what you started out with, by what you overcome. https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? It was all the normal things you hear from athletes when they retire.. Webster is seen as an example of the difficulties American football players suffer when their careers are over. 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. Mike Webster Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster was the first NFL player diagnosed with CTE. 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. ''I am not seeking your pity or sympathy,'' he said at a news conference at the time. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). You couldnt help but take it as a slap in the face. One of the individuals who was instrumental in beginning the story was former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Mike Webster through his family. This reliable family man who used to read his children Bible stories at bedtime began to get in his car and disappear for days. 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. The father and son slept on the floor, surrounded by pizza boxes. Eventually, the judge did go back and let us basically appeal that, but it was like being stuck in limbo. He was often reclusive. Steelers legendary center Mike Webster was simply not himself after his career ended. Its too tough. I think thats how he felt. ). I remember going to the Steelers locker room. Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/feature-stories/nfl/when-cte-steals-your-dad-garrett-remembers-mike-webster/. Mike Powell/Getty Images "Iron Mike" Webster helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 70's. After leaving the game, he suffered depression and dementia, dying in 2002 at the age of 50. "If you take out the head injuries, Dad was ruled completely disabled from football," Webster explained. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. This psychological aspect of just being ignored was the hardest part and what we had to keep reliving. [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. I did some work with a brain injury group. He wasnt eligible, to be honest. But since he passed away, nobody in the family gets any more of that pension.. We initially were not part of the settlement class, Webster stated. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Were definitely part of that. There was an error deleting this problem. [8] At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player in the NFL to have played on all four Super Bowl winning teams of the 1970s Steelers. [6]This ended in 1986 when he dislocated his elbow, causing him to sit out for four games. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, who initially made him an offensive line coach before allowing him to return as the starting center. 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Resend Activation Email. At 6-foot-1, 255 pounds, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Somebody is struggling with something. Everybody in the family: my mom, my older brothers and sisters, my older brother and my older sister will say that. It hurt him. Please consider helping us to continue to provide quality ad-free sports advocacy, journalism, and assistance to athletes. Mike would be the first one at the stadium and the last to leave, he was so afraid to fail, recalls Pamela. Webster was also one of the first former NFL players to be diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He receives funding from various academic and research organisations. You look at the center position as the foundation, says legendary running back Franco Harris. This browser does not support getting your location. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The article is printed in its entirety below. He died at age 50, possibly from brain injuries sustained from his work. Omalu noted that Webster's brain didn't look like any fifty-year old that he ever examined as he . 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. One of the best silver linings in the course of the situation has been the community of families that either are enduring or have endured similar circumstances that the Websters are part of. But when he died, I felt this calm come over me. Then they were talking about how theyve gotten that by not giving pensions out. You can find out when League of Denial airs on your local PBS station here. 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. People who play in the NFL, theyre not normal guys. The NFL appealed the ruling. Almost half of the injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes. a famous neuropathologist, performed an autopsy on Webster's brain in 2002. But I do promise you this: No matter what happens, I will answer the charges. Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8945061/mike-webster. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters.