On day he’s inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL player Roger Craig reveals dementia diagnosis
TheGrio...
Craig, the first player to rush for 1,000 yards and catch for 1,000 yards in a single season, turned his HOF speech into a moment of awareness.
For fans of the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday was supposed to be a day to honor Roger Craig.
The three-time Super Bowl winner during their dynasty in the 1980s made NFL history as the first player to run for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in a single season. But on Saturday, his voice gave way not only to his accomplishments on the football field, but also to what he’d be dealing with off the field.
In a pre-taped message, Craig revealed he’d been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Doctors believe that the diagnosis came due in part to the concussions Craig endured while playing football.
“Over time, my family noticed it too and ultimately led us to seek answers from my doctor,” Craig said. “Two things can be true: Football gave me opportunities beyond anything I could imagine. It helped shape the man I became. At the same time, we know more today about brain health than when I played, and I hope sharing my story encourages people to pay attention to their health and seek help when something doesn’t feel right.”
He added, “I want people to know that this diagnosis doesn’t define me. I am still Roger Craig. I am still a father, still a husband, a teammate, a friend and someone who loves this game and the people who brought it to my life. If sharing my story helps even one family or one former player, then it’s worth it. Football gave me everything: opportunity, discipline, lifelong friends and the platform to grow as a man. This honor belongs to my parents who started it all.”
Craig was present on Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where other former NFL stars like Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri were honored. Unlike those four, Craig let a 10-minute pre-recorded speech showcase what he enjoyed about football and what making the Hall of Fame meant to him.
Unlike some Hall of Famers from those 49ers squads of the 1980s, Craig had to wait more than 25 years to receive the call to Canton, Ohio. The 66-year-old was drafted out of Nebraska in 1983 and became a focal point of the high-powered 49ers offense. He was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, rushing for a career high 1,502 yards and recording an NFL high 2,036 yards from scrimmage.