A Cleveland family faced an impossible choice last week. Their 21-year-old son, Bryce Dunlap, wouldn’t survive. But in their darkest hour, they thought of someone else fighting for his life, a quarterback who’d spent decades in the heart of Cleveland: Bernie Kosar.

Bryce had suffered an anoxic brain injury. He was on a ventilator. For days, his parents watched for signs of their son getting better. But this weekend, Bryce’s family got the devastating news that he wouldn’t survive. Bryce wanted to donate his organs, and his parents got in touch with LifeBanc officials. Bryce’s mother, Kim Kane, later shared their ordeal in a Fox 8 interview.

“My ex-husband and I looked at each other and said Bernie Kosar is going through some terrible stuff,” Kane told Fox 8. “And we said put Bernie on the list.”

In Bryce’s final moments, he wore a Cleveland Browns jersey, just like the rest of his family. It was Bryce’s liver that reportedly went to Bernie for a transplant. A Browns fan’s final gift to the legend he’d admired all these years.

“This would have meant so much to him to do something,” Kane said about her son’s last heroic act.

Bryce wasn’t just another person in the Dawg Pound. His aunt Tracy McCanna described him as “a bright light–full of humor, kindness, and an energy that lifted everyone around him.”

McCanna launched a GoFundMe to cover the funeral and memorial costs that Bryce’s family will have to bear. In their GoFundMe, McCanna also noted that Bryce will continue to impact many lives through his organ donation. 

“Bryce touched countless lives, and will continue to do so as an organ donor,” McCanna wrote. “We want to honor him in a way that reflects the love he shared so freely.” 

As for Bernie, he finally got the call he had been waiting for since last year. And as always, he shared the updates with all the fans waiting and praying for positive news.

Bernie Kosar’s health update

After facing multiple complications with internal bleeding, on Monday, November 17, the 61-year-old quarterback prepped for surgery at University Hospital. He took to X to share a pre-surgery message to the world.

“It may not be Victory Monday on the football field, but here we are at 4:23 in the morning, University Hospital, and it’s absolutely Victory Monday for me,” Kosar said in a video.

The surgery was successful, and Kosar’s next update came bearing good news.

“I’m out, and I’m feeling good. Ready to enjoy the rest of the week and the rest of our lives,” he said in a post-surgery video.

On Tuesday morning, Kosar shared another update, this time with a heartfelt message to everyone.

“Great morning here at University Hospital, 15 hours out from liver transplant surgery,” Bernie said in the latest update. “Really excited to be attacking the first day of the rest of my life with the great gifts that I was given yesterday.”

Meanwhile, University Hospitals also released a statement that captured the weight of the moment. “As with all organ donations, we are humbled and awed by the generosity of the donor and their family. Due to confidentiality laws, we cannot provide additional details about the donor.”

No names, just gratitude. But Bryce Dunlap’s immeasurable contribution was shared with the world by his family.

The two families now share an unbreakable bond. One grieving. One celebrating. Both were transformed by a decision made by a family that chose to turn their son’s final act into someone else’s second chance.