Former NFL Player Roger Craig Reveals Vascular Dementia Diagnosis, Says Doctors Believe It Could Be Connected to Concussions
Roger Craig has been diagnosed with vascular dementia.The former NFL player, 66, revealed his diagnosis during a pre-taped induction speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Sitting onstage at the Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Craig stated near the end of the 10-minute-long clip that doctors believe his vascular dementia “may be related, at least in part, to the concussions” he experienced during his football career.Vascular dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, is “a decline in thinking skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to various regions of the brain, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients.”
Symptoms include confusion, trouble finding the right words, difficulty paying attention, trouble organizing thoughts or actions, difficulty planning and following through with plans, slowed thinking, uncertainty about what to do next and memory issues, per the Mayo Clinic.
Roger Craig playing with the San Francisco 49ers in 1990.David Madison/Getty
According to Craig, the changes surrounding his health “were gradual” and were initially “dismissed as normal aging.”
“Over time, my family noticed it too and ultimately led us to seek answers from my doctor,” the athlete continued. “Two things can be true: Football gave me opportunities beyond anything I could imagine. It helped shape the man I became. At the same time, we know more today about brain health than when I played, and I hope sharing my story encourages people to pay attention to their health and seek help when something doesn’t feel right.”
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“Football gave me everything,” Craig — who is married to Vernessia Craig, with whom he shares five children: three daughters and two sons — reiterated. “I want people to know this diagnosis doesn’t define me.”
“I am still Roger Craig. I am still a father, a husband, a teammate, a friend and someone who loves this game and the people who brought it to my life,” he added. “If sharing my story helps even one family or one former player, then it’s worth it.”
Roger Craig in August 2026.Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Craig played as a running back in the NFL for 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. (He won four Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls with the 49ers.)
The athlete was the first NFL player to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey are the only other football players to have accomplished the same, according to NBC Sports.
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Craig did not attend a news conference on Thursday, Aug. 6, where the four other members of the 2026 class — Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly — spent time with media, ESPN reported.
Coaches of the 49ers wore black T-shirts with “Craig” and “33” written on the back during practice on Aug. 8 to honor the former player, per the outlet.
