Bernie Kosar Donates $25,000 to Liver Donor Family on Thanksgiving

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar celebrated Thanksgiving by donating $25,000 to the family of the 21-year-old fan whose liver transplant saved his life, marking a poignant full-circle moment just days after his discharge from University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Kosar, who turned 62 on Tuesday, underwent the successful liver transplant on November 17, 2025, at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. The donor, Bryce Dunlap of North Olmsted, Ohio, died the previous day from complications of an anoxic brain injury sustained during a medical emergency while watching a Browns game. Dunlap, a lifelong Browns supporter, had expressed wishes to donate his organs, and his family requested a directed donation to Kosar after learning of his need. LifeBanc confirmed the liver as a match, enabling the procedure.

One week after surgery, Kosar left the hospital on November 24, describing himself as a walking miracle. "There was no way I thought I was going to be here for my 62nd birthday," he told reporters at a press conference. "There was no way I thought I was going to be healthy, let alone walking out of here." Dr. Zoe Lewis, the transplant surgeon who performed the...