Ex-Vikings QB Tommy Kramer says he has dementia

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer has been identified with dementia, he introduced on social media.

The 69-year-old Kramer, who performed 13 of his 14 seasons within the NFL with the Vikings and made the Professional Bowl after main the league in passer ranking in 1986, posted on his X account Wednesday that he was formally identified with the cognitive decline slightly greater than yr in the past on the Cleveland Clinic as a part of a well being and wellness program for former NFL gamers.

Kramer stated he was impressed to share about his situation after the revelation Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame quarterback Brett Favre made Tuesday during a congressional hearing that he has Parkinson’s disease.

Kramer stated his medical doctors informed him at his one-year checkup that the dementia hasn’t superior and that he has stopped consuming alcohol to higher deal with it.

“Please, no sympathy,” Kramer wrote. “I’ve lived an ideal life and would not change a factor. No person wished to win greater than me and I by no means gave up, and that is precisely how I’ll battle this.”

Kramer, a local of San Antonio, Texas, was drafted within the first spherical out of Rice by the Vikings in 1977. He was given the nickname “Two Minute Tommy” for his late-game success, most famously a 46-yard Hail Mary go for a landing in 1980 that was tipped and caught with one hand by Ahmad Rashad to cap a comeback victory over Cleveland Browns that clinched a division title for Minnesota. Kramer handed for 456 yards and 4 touchdowns in that sport.

Kramer is second in Vikings historical past in passing yards, behind Corridor of Fame member Fran Tarkenton, however a lot of his profession was interrupted by accidents. He grew to become the starter in 1979, the one season by which he performed all 16 video games.

He performed his remaining NFL season in 1990 for the New Orleans Saints.