The Cleveland Browns community is feeling both sadness and deep gratitude after learning that a young fan’s final wish ended up saving the life of one of the team’s most respected players Bernie Kosar.
Bernie Kosar after undergoing a liver transplant on Nov. 17. Credit : Bernie Kosar/X
Bernie Kosar after undergoing a liver transplant on Nov. 17.
Credit : Bernie Kosar/X
21-year-old Bryce Dunlap died last week following a sudden medical emergency. His passing has left family, friends, and Browns fans heartbroken, yet his final act has become a source of overwhelming admiration.
Former Browns quarterback Kosar said doctors had to delay his liver transplant after he developed a serious infection.
He shared in a video that he went through two tough procedures because of internal bleeding and asked fans to keep him in their prayers as he tried to get through a very scary period.
I’m out and I’m feeling good! 🙌matter! pic.twitter.com/jS5ttogN5q
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) November 18, 2025
Kosar then returned with another update. This time, he shared that he had undergone a successful liver transplant and said he was “feeling good.”
His message landed with heavy meaning once people learned whose sacrifice made that surgery possible.
Bryce Dunlap’s mother, Kim Kane, spoke to Fox 8 and described the heartbreaking moment she and Bryce’s father realized he would not survive. She said Bryce always wanted his organs donated, so the family honored that wish.
They knew Kosar needed help and made sure his name was on the list. Kane described the moment with the kind of detail that shows how deeply Bryce was loved.
She said he passed away wearing a Browns shirt, surrounded by family members proudly wearing Browns jerseys.
She added that helping Kosar would have meant everything to her son because “he just touched a lot of lives. He was a good boy. He was a good boy.”
More than fifty thousand dollars has since been raised on GoFundMe to support Bryce’s family, a sign of just how many people have been moved by his final act.
His story has become a reminder of how sports fandom often creates real connections that stretch far beyond the stadium.
NFL fans unite in tears as Bryce Dunlap’s final gift gives Bernie Kosar new life
The reaction online has been steady and emotional as fans thought about the impact of Bryce’s final gift. Many shared messages for Kosar, while others praised Bryce’s courage, and together their voices formed a wave of appreciation for a young man who showed one last act of kindness.
One fan praised Kosar while acknowledging the moment’s heavy meaning andsaid, “Lova ya Bernie. Your life story is an inspiration.”
Another fanexpressed the depth of the moment by adding that “this is better than a Browns win any day.”
A third responded with some humor wrapped in affection for Kosar andwrote, “Wait till the drugs wear off. So happy for you big guy. Take it easy. Relax. You got this.”
A fourth fan focused on the magnitude of the transplant andtold him, “You got the best win of your career today. May God continue to bless you in your recovery.”
Bryce’s legacy now lives in every heartbeat Bernie Kosar gets to take forward. His final act reminded an entire fan base what compassion looks like at its purest.