Alex Karras suffers kidney failure
By Mike Hutton 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com October 8, 2012 9:46PM
FILE - In this 1971 file photo, Detroit Lions football player Alex Karras poses for a photo, location not known. Now 76, and diagnosed with dementia, Karras is taking on the role of lead plaintiff: He and his wife, Susan Clark, are two of 119 people who filed suit Thursday, April 12, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, the latest complaint brought against the NFL by ex-players who say the league didn't do enough to protect them from head injuries. (AP Photo/File)
Updated: November 10, 2012 6:26AM
The end appears to be near for Alex Karras.
The 1953 Emerson graduate suffered kidney failure and is in home hospice care with just days to live, according to his nephews Tony and Jeff Karras. Jeff is the football coach at Roosevelt.
Tony, who works in public relations for Rose Hulman, said he spoke with Alex last six months ago. Alex had also been battling cancer.
“He was happy and healthy and fine,” Tony said. “We had a nice conversation about my two kids.”
Karras, who is 77, also suffers from dementia. Both Ted Sr., his brother who lives in Miller and Alex, are part of class action lawsuit filed by former NFL players against the league for its failures to properly treat head injuries.
Karras was a four-time Indiana all-state high school player at Emerson. He played football at Iowa and led the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten title in 1956 and then to a Rose Bowl victory.
In 1957, he was the Outland Trophy winner. Karras played in the NFL for 12 years, getting named to the Pro Bowl four times. Karras was suspended by the NFL in 1963 for betting on league games. He used the time off to wrestle professionally. After his NFL career, Karras started acting, playing in the sitcom “Webster” and a slew of movies.
