In an announcement that echoes the recent revelation by former NFL icon Brett Favre, another famed quarterback, Tommy Kramer, has revealed he is facing his own health challenges. The 69-year-old former Minnesota Viking took to social media to disclose he was diagnosed with dementia, according to a report by MySA. Kramer's disclosure comes in the wake of Favre's congressional hearing testimony where the Hall of Famer shared his Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
Known for his years of service with the Vikings, and for his peak in 1986 when he led the league in passer rating, Kramer is remembered as "Two-Minute Tommy," a nod to his knack for late-game heroics. "Please, no sympathy," Kramer said, as noted by NFL. "I've lived a great life and wouldn't change a thing. Nobody wanted to win more than me and I never gave up, and that's exactly how I'm going to battle this."
Kramer's admission was part of a broader dialogue on the health risks NFL players face. Diagnosed a little over year ago at the Cleveland Clinic, part of health and wellness program for ex-NFL players, doctors noted at his one-year checkup that his dementia had not advanced. This medical evaluation indicated that the lifestyle changes he had made, including abstaining from alcohol, appear to be having a positive effect.
A native of San Antonio, Kramer's career spanned 13 seasons with the Vikings, where he still ranks as second in the franchise's history for passing yards, trailing only behind the Hall of Fame member Fran Tarkenton. While his NFL days were marred by injuries, Kramer's talent was unmistakable, highlighted by moments like the unforgettable 46-yard Hail Mary touchdown he delivered in 1980. Kramer played his final NFL season in 1990 with the New Orleans Saints, rounding out a notable career in professional football.
