Bernie Kosar underwent a liver transplant on Monday after reportedly spending more than a year on the waiting list.

Many fans had been following Kosar, the beloved former Cleveland Browns quarterback and Boardman High School graduate, in recent days as he posted videos from his hospital bed at University Hospitals.

The transplant had been scheduled previously, but the 61-year-old Kosar had several bouts with internal bleeding that put the operation on hold. On Sunday, Kosar posted a video with the long-awaited news — the transplant was a go and was set for early Monday morning.

Later in the day, Kosar delivered a post-surgery video with good news.

“Hey, I’m out and I’m feeling good,” the former QB said.

Kosar revealed in July 2024 that he was facing serious health problems and was on the waiting list.

Kosar has dealt with football-related health issues for years — including as many as 80 broken bones and 100 concussions. He has also had multiple seizures over the years. But without Monday’s transplant, Kosar’s life seemed to be in jeopardy. The news over the last few days came on the heels of the death of former Ohio State and NFL player Nick Mangold, who died at 41 just a week after announcing that he was in dire need of a kidney transplant.

Mangold did not get a live-saving call, but Kosar reportedly received the donation of a liver from 21-year-old Bryce Dunlap, who suffered a medical emergency. Cleveland’s Fox 8 I-TEAM reported that the young man’s mother said when the family learned he would not survive, they decided to honor his wishes and donate his organs. Kim Kane said she and her ex-husband agreed to make their son’s liver available to Kosar. She said her son — a lifelong Browns fan — would be happy that his donation extended the life of someone he considered a hero.

“He just touched a lot of lives,” Kane told the TV station. “He was a good boy. He was a good boy.”

Kosar’s second chance — as well as the tragic and untimely death of Mangold — both serve to highlight the importance of organ donation and the fact that there are many people still awaiting the gift of life.

Your decision to be an organ donor could save lives, just like Dunlap’s desire to do so gave the former Browns quarterback and Mahoning Valley native another chance at life. In some cases, living donors can donate a kidney or a lobe of the liver to someone in need.

In 2018, Canfield High School assistant wrestling coach Dave Crawford underwent testing to see if he was a match for Greg Cooper, the school’s athletic director, who needed a liver transplant. Crawford donated 65% of his liver to Cooper, who underwent successful transplant surgery Oct. 29, 2018.

The best way to ensure that your donation desires are carried out is to register with your state’s organ donor registry, indicate your decision on your driver’s license or state ID and let family members know.

Bernie Kosar and Nick Mangold were among more than 100,000 Americans awaiting organ transplants. More than 90,000 are awaiting kidneys, as Mangold was.