Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar is back under hospital care. Just weeks after undergoing a major liver transplant, the former quarterback is facing another medical hurdle. He has been re-admitted to University Hospital after his body struggled to accept the transplanted liver fully.

“2026 is going to be a great year for us, but it started out a little rough for me here,” Kosar said in a video posted to X. My body is having a small rejection right now of the liver. So I’m back in here getting IV’d up and trying to get my body to accept this new liver and this new gift so I can get on to having an awesome, positive 2026. Have a great rest of the week. You matter.”

This marks his fourth return to UH since the Nov. 17 transplant. Previously, he was hospitalized on Dec. 10 due to E. Coli blood poisoning and was released a week later. For now, the Browns fans hope that this chapter finally turns toward steady healing for the 62-year-old quarterback.

The former quarterback received the liver from Bryce Dunlap, 21, of North Olmsted. Dunlap had unexpectedly died due to complications from a brain injury. In fact, on December 28, right before the Browns faced the Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, the team paid homage to Dunlap and his family on the field.

Dunlap’s mother, Kim Kane, was the honorary Dawg Pound Captain. Kosar had shared a tribute message on the video board.

On Thanksgiving Day, Kosar also presented Dunlap’s family with a $25,000 check.

“This family changed my life forever when they blessed me with the incredible gift of Bryce’s liver. Their generosity gave me a second chance, and I will never stop honoring Bryce’s legacy,” Kosar wrote on X, sharing videos of his interaction with the Dunlap family. “Today was more than a gift — it was a full-circle moment of gratitude, healing, and love. To the Dunlap family, I am forever connected to you.”

History of Bernie Kosar’s health

On Nov. 12, Bernie Kosar shared that his planned liver transplant had to be pushed back after doctors found an infection in the donor organ. Just days later, on Nov. 17, surgeons completed the transplant successfully at University Hospitals. Then, momentum stayed positive, as he left UH on Nov. 24, just one day before turning 62 and right before Thanksgiving.

“I feel like a walking miracle,” Kosar told reporters after he left the hospital. However, less than a week later, Kosar returned to UH on Nov. 30. This time, he stayed quiet about the reason, which naturally raised concerns. On Dec. 2, he was discharged and shared a simple but powerful update with fans, saying he was “heading home with gratitude.”

According to Dr. Zoe Lewis, the transplant took about five hours to complete. More importantly, Lewis described the procedure as “uneventful, thankfully,” which is exactly what doctors hope for.

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Lewis also mentioned that Kosar was one of the very few patients who had their breathing tube removed in the operating room following surgery. She added that Kosar’s recovery process would include a lot of blood testing on a weekly basis.

During that time, Jim McCarthy, a close friend of Kosar’s, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser. He wanted to assist his friend with the medical costs, and by the end of the fundraiser, the amount surpassed $181,000 of its $300,000 goal. The $25,000 that Kosar donated to the Dunlap family was from these funds.

But it all started in July 2024, when Kosar revealed during an interview with Cleveland Magazine that he was battling liver failure and needed a transplant. He joined UH’s transplant list in spring 2024.

Dr. Anthony Post, who is a hepatologist at University Hospitals, had been treating him. He mentioned that while Kosar’s condition seemed more dire at the beginning of 2024, he had been showing improvement. However, he also cautioned that things could quickly fluctuate with liver disease.

In that same interview, Kosar also shared he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disorder of the brain. It was by an independent doctor who does evaluations for NFL players.

Now, Browns fans can only hope the road ahead finally smooths out for one of Cleveland’s toughest fighters.