Frank Gifford’s widow and son reveal how CTE damaged the late NFL legend before his death in 2015 aged 84: ‘In one or two minutes, he’d forgotten everything I had just said’
- Frank Gifford played ten seasons in the NFL and won a title with the Giants
- Kathie Lee and Cody have been fighting for CTE awareness since Gifford's death
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Kathie Lee and Cody Gifford, widow and son of Frank Gifford, have revealed how chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) affected the late NFL legend before his death in 2015.
In an interview with PeopleKathie Lee and Cody revealed how the player-turned-broadcaster's memory deteriorated as he battled the brain disease that has affected so many ex-footballers.
βThe NFL gave my dad a life,β Cody said. “But at the same time there were dangers.”
On one of his last nights with his father, Cody recalled that “within one or two minutes he forgot everything I had just said.”
βHe was dealing with old age stuff,β Kathie Lee described in one earlier interview. “It's like losing your car keys and putting them in the microwave.”
Frank Gifford's son and widow talked about his short-term memory loss before his death
Gifford played 10 seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants before moving to work as a broadcaster
The family began to notice the problems in the years leading up to Frank's death at age 84. Kathie Lee insists she hasn't been the same since seeing Frank's brain scan. She said Frank had stage four CTE, the most severe.
βIt was heartbreaking to watch it,β Kathie Lee said. “We found damage to the hippocampus, the center for short-term memory… it's the cumulative blows you take throughout your life.”
Gifford played ten seasons in the NFL as a halfback, wide receiver and defensive back for the New York Giants. During his career, Gifford won an NFL title and made eight Pro Bowl appearances.
After hanging up his cleats, Gifford took his talents to the broadcast booth, where he worked as a play-by-play commentator for CBS Sports' football, golf and basketball coverage.
Gifford's family is supporting a 2017 documentary titled 'Requiem for a Running Back' examining the effects of CTE.
βI just let out a big sigh,β Cody remembers upon seeing the documentary. βIt struck me how many similarities these guys have gone through.β
Gifford married Kathie Lee in October 1986. The two were happily married for almost 30 years
Cody has since approached the documentary's director and financed the first-ever commercial release. The film will be available on Amazon, YouTube and iTunes on December 1.
Both Cody and Kathie Lee are committed to raising awareness about CTE and hope there will be a treatment for the condition soon.
βNo one would care more about people and children getting hurt than Frank,β Kathie Lee said.