Former NFL star linebacker Bill Romanowski reveals that despite suffering 20 known concussions during his playing career, he’s doing just fine health-wise.
Now 58 years old, Bill Romanowski played 16 NFL seasons from 1988 to 2003. The Boston College product was a key cog of the San Francisco 49ers’ squad that won back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1988 and 1989, and a crucial piece to the Denver Broncos’ teams that won consecutive Lombardi Trophies in 1997 and 1998.
During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Romanowski revealed that he suffered 20 documented concussions throughout his 16-year career. Despite that alarming number, the two-time Pro Bowler said that he thankfully hasn’t experienced any significant long-term health issues in his post-playing life.
“I got this saying,” Romanowski told the outlet. “‘Don’t let the old man in, because he’s knocking every day.’ I work at it.”
To keep himself healthy, Bill Romanowski takes daily supplements, works out frequently and red light therapy. Romanowski admits worries about his long-term health, though, as his mother lost a battle to Alzheimer’s.
Bill Romanowski tells @TMZ_Sports despite the repeated head trauma he suffered during his NFL career, he's still feeling great — although he admits he has to work at it daily. pic.twitter.com/kab16moFEO
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 9, 2024
Sadly, there’s a long list of NFL players who experienced significant health issues like memory loss, mood swings, anxiety and depression following their playing careers. Brett Favre, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in January, thinks he may have suffered close to 1,000 concussions in his career.
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The NFL continues to work toward making football a safer sport for its players, recently giving the green light for Guardian Caps that significantly reduce the chances of a concussion.
Bill Romanowski Was A Polarizing NFL Player
Though Romanowski had the luxury of playing on four Super Bowl championship-winning teams, his career was not short of controversial incidents.
He delivered a vicious hit to Carolina Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins in a 1997 preseason game that caused the latter to suffer a broken jaw. There were several instances of punching opponents, and one memorable incident where he spat on 49ers wide receiver JJ Stokes in a 1997 game.
As well, former Raiders teammate Marcus Williams had to retire in 2003 after suffering a significant eye injury on a punch from Romanowski during a practice.
