"Webster" star Alex Karras, who began his career as a football hero for the Detroit Lions, died Wednesday at the age of 77.
According to the Associated Press reports, Karras had recently suffered kidney failure and been diagnosed with dementia. Susan Clark, his wife, says that football cut his life short. "This physical beating that he took as a football player has impacted his life, and therefore it has impacted his family life," Clark said.
The Lions also said he had suffered from heart disease and, for the last two years, stomach cancer. He died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members, said Craig Mitnick, Karras' attorney.
The former athletes have argued that the NFL did not reveal to players the potential long-term consequences of head trauma, according to Sporting News. Karras was among a group of 3,500 ex-NFL players suing the league over its handling of head injuries
"He is interested in making the game of football safer and hoping that other families of retired players will have a healthier and happier retirement," Clark said.
Susan Clark also noted that her husband could no longer drive or remember some of his favorite recipes.
Lions president Tom Lewand released the following statement upon learning of Karras's deteriorating health: "The entire Detroit Lions family is deeply saddened to learn of the news regarding the condition of one of our all-time greats, Alex Karras. Perhaps no player in Lions history attained as much success and notoriety for what he did after his playing days as did Alex."
