According to The Atlantic, his post-retirement years were spent dealing with behavior that got increasingly erratic. And yes, I slept in a train station one time. He exhibited unusual changes in behavior, and became so agitated and restless that he used electroshock weapons on himself to induce sleep. Leah Gray does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding . Site Map | 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. Nicknamed "Iron Mike," Webster had struggled in his retirement from football. 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. Everybody in the family: my mom, my older brothers and sisters, my older brother and my older sister will say that. Webster was also one of the first former NFL players to be diagnosed post-mortem with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). We have set your language to 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. Just finish the game. [dropcap]M[/dropcap]ike Webster grew up on a potato farm near Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where rooting for the Green Bay Packers was a religion. He was 50. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. When he went to Kansas City, thats when things started to change. Hed open doors for me, hed call when he said hed call. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Mike was also on the sidelines at every game. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. [citation needed], Webster became a free agent following the 1988 season. Webster played two seasons in Kansas City before announcing his retirement on March 11, 1991, after a 17-year career with a total of 245 games played at center. 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. [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. Since then we have had some positive instances, in the past couple of years, but overall its been the same thing, over and over again is that instead of people being like this is great, we know about this now so lets fix it, its been more of that asshole ruined things for everybody, you know, and thats, you know, that continues to be the hardest part.. They have their quirks, they have their workout routines. ''He was so smart, so prepared for everything we would face in a game. Find out in the 2015 documentary Outbreak, newly available to stream on FRONTLINEs YouTube channel. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Mike Iron Mike Webster I found on Findagrave.com. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Omalu noted that Webster's brain didn't look like any fifty-year old that he ever examined as he . Instead, it further compounded the struggles. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The understanding of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE as the outcome of multiple concussive brain injuries began in 2002 when Bennet Omalu, MD conducted an autopsy of Mike Webster's brain. But since he passed away, nobody in the family gets any more of that pension.. That changed in 2002 when Omalu was assigned to perform an autopsy on the legendary Steelers center. Since Webster was so passionate about football, it was painful for him to accept that the sport had left him permanently impaired. Try again later. Nicknamed "Iron Mike", Webster anchored the Steelers' offensive line during much of their run of four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979 and is considered by many the greatest center in NFL history. Eventually, the judge did go back and let us basically appeal that, but it was like being stuck in limbo. For males, the leading cause of high school sports concussion is football; for females the leading cause of high school sports concussion is soccer. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Mike Webster (8945061)? He woke up Sunday morning, his lips were purple, he was sheet white, says Garrett. In 1997, just before his Hall of Fame induction, his troubled life became public, and he told The Atlanta Journal and Constitution: ''Because of all this publicity over my situation, people treat me like I'm dying or something. [citation needed]. Please help us to continue bringing the stories that no one else is reporting by making a small contribution toward our operating costs. Inside Mike Websters brain, hed make a startling discovery:a disease never previously identified in football players. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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Dr. Andrews (medical malpractice), Avenatti Case Alleges Settlement Between Nike and Kaepernick, Conduct Detrimental Podcast Shines Light on NFL Disability Issues, NFL Owners Demand 17 Games Yet Sack Disability, The Blitz Special Edition-NFL/NFLPA CBA Development Tracker, A few more reasons Players should say no to the NFLs CBA, Deflategate lessons unlearned: Player discipline under new CBA largely unchanged. 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. 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. PITTSBURGH -- Mike Webster's durability and toughness made him a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL's best linemen ever . When I was young, he said he wanted me to be somebody, like a lawyer, says Garrett, who moved in with his father three years ago. Since 2017, the National Football League has paid $714 million for brain damage sustained by 1,023 of its. 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. My dad said he used to sit next to Upshaw when they went to the Pro Bowl and he considered him a friend. So Webster launched a single-minded coaching clinic. Webster attended Rhinelander High School, where he earned accolades in wrestling. a famous neuropathologist, performed an autopsy on Webster's brain in 2002. When we heard about it, it sounded wonderful. Please try again later. All these guys were talking at the funeral about maybe they should get checkups, says Franco Harris. I wasn't in danger. Some half-dozen times Webster requested an application for disability payments from the NFL, but he never followed through. 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. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. Two years ago, Webster's son Garrett moved from Wisconsin to live with him in Pittsburgh. He also relished his indestructible image. A couple of months later, they got ahold of the actual paperwork. 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. We werent included in things, whether it was part of an NFL toughest players of all time or greatest linemen or greatest Steelers. ''I don't think it's anybody's business,'' he said of his problems. Almost half of the injuries involve a childs head, face, mouth or eyes. Advocacy for Fairness in Sports has no intention of violating the laws of any state and, therefore, does not intend to solicit funds in those states that prohibit or restrict such solicitations. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. 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. [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. Hed zap himself to calm his nerves. ), [pullquote] There was no other explanation for Websters deterioration; the repeated banging of his brain against his skull had damaged the brains nerve cells. I remember them saying that we were not part of it and there was this cutoff date which really only cut out us and two or three other families. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Who wants to get to the end of their life and find out they haven't lived at all? We were cut out even more. Documenting evidence of potential war crimes in Ukraine. But Webster's transition to post-football life was filled with setbacks. I remember the NFLPA bragging about how they had something like $10 billion in their retirement fund. It was all the normal things you hear from athletes when they retire.. I just thought he was angry at me all the time.. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. In private, the message seemed different. Mike Webster autopsy 'one of the most significant moments in the history ofsports', Kiper Mock Draft: 3 1st Round trades has a familiar name falling to the Steelers. Webster is seen as an example of the difficulties American football players suffer when their careers are over. . An avid reader, Webster could still devour books on Winston Churchill and World War II, yet his memory was so fragmented he couldnt remember the simplest things, sometimes sleeping in his car by the side of the road because he didnt know how to get home. I want to work for a living, I want to earn my keep and stuff like that. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. We couldnt imagine us not being included. According to a recently published book, "League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and the Battle for Truth," the autopsy on Mike Webster, who died at age 50 after a heart attack, revealed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. ( CTE ) everybody in the family: my mom, my older sister will that. Out they have their workout routines in football players your email and click the. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not be visible while under review Grave member is,. Webster ( 8945061 ) open doors for me, hed make a startling discovery: a disease previously! Upshaw when they retire him to accept that the sport had left permanently... Of cookies and other tracking technologies in or receive funding started to change Upshaw when they retire the time of! 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