CLEVELAND — Browns legend Bernie Kosar shook hands, posed for photographs, chatted with reporters and stood on stage as he addressed the crowd on Feb. 5 during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at Rocket Arena.
The beloved retired quarterback wore a smile on his face and explained he felt himself fighting back tears at times.
About three months ago, Kosar received a liver transplant. A series of hospital stays followed. Last month, Kosar returned to the hospital with what he described as “a possible little bit of a rejection.” A body accepting a donated organ can be a complicated process, one Kosar is experiencing.
“My Pinocchio nose, I don’t want it to grow anymore nor go to confession on Sunday,” Kosar said. “So, I’m actually telling the truth when I say I’m feeling immensely better.
“[I] kind of feel confidence that I’m on the positive side of healing, and that is kind of really making a big difference right now.”
Kosar turned 62 on Nov. 25. He underwent transplant surgery on Nov. 17. The surgery occurred after Kosar announced he had undergone multiple procedures in attempts to stop internal bleeding as he awaited a transplant.
A Browns player from 1985-93 who helped the team reach three AFC championship games, Kosar said his medical issues have led him to view his life as being in the fourth quarter or overtime.
“You go through transplants and have doctors telling you you have Parkinsonian symptoms and early stage dementia and stuff, it’s pretty scary stuff, as much as you try to want to pretend to be cool,” Kosar said. “So, to be able to really see some of the holistic things that I’ve been doing actually working is actually just massively a gift from God. Spiritually, I couldn’t feel any more blessed.”
Kosar’s liver donor was a Browns fan named Bryce Dunlap, a North Olmsted High School graduate who died at the age of 21 due to a medical emergency.
Kosar said a movie script about how Dunlap’s donation saved his life wouldn’t be believable.
“He just signed up on his [driver’s] license to be an organ donor,” Kosar said. “Him and his father [were] talking about me and [saying]‘Hey, if something happened,’ to donate his liver to me. For the young man to unfortunately have that aneurysm the very next day during a Browns game, and then for them to want to direct it towards me, which is a beautiful, selfless act in itself [is unbelievable]. Then even that, you have to hit the lotto again. You know, it has to match again. I mean, even if you want to do that, the odds of it matching are very remote.”
Video of Browns QB Bernie Kosar talking about his donor, Bryce Dunlap
See what former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar said about his liver donor, Bryce Dunlap, at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on Feb. 5, 2026
Kosar said he is now encouraging people to sign up to be organ donors like Dunlap did.
Kosar also said he wants to help people who are suffering by sharing his story.
“I almost feel it’s a responsibility,” he added, “because I’ve been given this second chance.”
Winners during the 26th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards
Male high school athlete of the year: Marcus Johnson (Garfield Heights basketball)Female high school athlete of the year: Saniyah Hall (SPIRE Academy basketball)Male college athlete of the year: Eric Colaco (Denison University baseball; Revere High School graduate)Female college athlete of the year: Katie Clark (University of Mount Union lacrosse; Walsh Jesuit High School graduate)Professional athlete of the year: Browns defensive end Myles GarrettLifetime achievement award: Retired Browns cornerback Hanford DixonJim Donovan courage award: Myles Grimmett (Elyria High School basketball)Best moment in Cleveland sports: Guardians overcome 15½-game deficit to win American League Central Division title
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
