Lions Alex Karras has died of kidney failure. He was recently diagnosed with kidney failure and dementia had been given only a few days to live. He died at home in Los Angeles surrounded by family members, said Craig Mitnick, Karras’ attorney.
The 77-year-old Karras has suffered from a variety of health problems in recent years, including dementia and cancer, and is part of the mass concussion lawsuit more than 3,000 former players have filed against the NFL.
Tom McInerney, owner of McInerney’s Woodhaven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and a friend of Karras’ since the 1950s, said Karras’ wife, Susan Clark, told him of her husband’s failing health in a 15-minute phone call this morning.
“I got a call from Susan last Wednesday or Thursday that he was in the hospital,” McInerney said. “(His kidneys) gave out on him and legs swelled up and his ankles swelled up and arms, so she said it doesn’t look good. They figured probably a couple weeks.
Lions president Tom Lewand released this statement:
“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.
“We know Alex first and foremost as one of the cornerstones to our Fearsome Foursome defensive line of the 1960s and also as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Many others across the country came to know Alex as an accomplished actor and as an announcer during the early years of Monday Night Football.
“We join his legions of fans from both sports and entertainment in prayer and support for Alex, his wife Susan, and his entire family during this most difficult time.”
