MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer has been diagnosed with dementia, he announced on social media.
Kramer, 69, played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons with the Vikings, leading the league in passing completion percentage and being selected to the Pro Bowl in 1986. Posted on X account on Wednesday He was formally diagnosed with cognitive decline a little over a year ago at the Cleveland Clinic as part of a health and wellness program for former NFL players.
Kramer said he was inspired to speak out about his condition after Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre revealed at a congressional hearing on Tuesday that he has Parkinson’s disease.
Kramer said that at her first-year checkup, doctors told her her dementia was not progressing and that she had stopped drinking alcohol to cope better.
“Please don’t feel sorry for me,” Kramer wrote. “I’ve had a great life and I wouldn’t change a thing. No one wants to win more than I do and I’ve never given up, and that’s exactly how I’m going to approach this fight.”
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Kramer was drafted by the Vikings in the first round out of Rice University in 1977. He earned the nickname “Two-Minute Tommy” for his late-game play, but is best known for his 46-yard Hail Mary pass that Ahmad Rashad made a one-handed catch to lead Minnesota to a comeback win over the Cleveland Browns and the division title in 1980. Kramer passed for 456 yards and four touchdowns in that game.
Kramer is second in Vikings history in passing yards behind Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, but much of his career was interrupted by injuries, and although he became a starter in 1979, that was the only season he played in all 16 games.
He played his final NFL season in 1990 with the New Orleans Saints.
