MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer revealed on Wednesday that he was diagnosed with dementia over a year ago. The 69-year-old shared his diagnosis on social media, noting that doctors estimate he has “anywhere from 2 to 10 years,” but his condition has not progressed since his one-year checkup.
In his heartfelt post, Kramer said, “Nobody wanted to win more than me, and I never gave up. That’s exactly how I’m going to battle this.” His decision to go public was inspired by Brett Favre, who recently disclosed his Parkinson’s diagnosis during a congressional hearing.
Kramer, who played with the Vikings from 1977 to 1989 and earned the nickname “Two-Minute Tommy” for his comeback drives, also highlighted the challenges NFL players face with medical expenses. He hopes to bring attention to how the NFL could better support former players dealing with serious health conditions.
Kramer’s legacy includes 24,775 passing yards and 159 touchdowns, along with 15 comeback victories for the Vikings. Now, he’s fighting a new battle with the same resilience that defined his football career.