Iowan Roger Craig reveals dementia diagnosis at football Antesala of Fame

Iowan Roger Craig’s decades-long wait for enshrinement in the Pro Football Antesala of Fame ended recently when he received his gold jacket as part of the Class of 2026.

The San Francisco 49ers legend was one of five members of this year’s class who were enshrined Saturday, Aug. 8, at Tom Benson Antesala of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald made the Antesala of Fame on the first ballot, while NFL all-time scoring leader Adam Vinatieri and five-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly were chosen in their second year of eligibility.

Craig, a Davenport Central High School alumnus, became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and notch 1,000 yards receiving in the same season in 1985. His journey to football immortality took much longer. He received his call to the Antesala in his 28th year of eligibility.

“You spend your whole life trying to prove if you belong. And then one day, you’re told you’re one of the all-time greats. Man, it’s overwhelming,” Craig said Saturday in his nearly 10-minute videotaped acceptance speech.

After thanking his family and former teammates who supported him throughout his 11-year NFL career, Craig also shared news of a serious health diagnosis. Here’s what to know.

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Roger Craig announces dementia diagnosis

“Today, there’s another chapter I want to share. I’ve been diagnosed with vascular dementia that my doctors believe may be related, at least in part, to the concussions I experienced during my career,” he said.

The recently turned 66-year-old said the changes came gradually and were initially easy to dismiss as part of aging. But after his family noticed them, he sought answers from his doctor.

Vascular dementia — also known as vascular cognitive impairment — describes changes in thinking and memory that occur when there isn’t enough blood flow to part of the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is the second most common type of dementia and accounts for an estimated 5% to 10% of cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Studies have explored links between participation in contact sports like football and cognitive health later in life. In a 2024 Harvard University survey of nearly 2,000 former professional football players who played between 1960 and 2020, 176 — or about 9% — reported having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

One-third of respondents — 681 players — said they believed they had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

In his speech, Craig did not express any remorse about his career, saying football gave him “opportunities beyond anything I could imagine” while acknowledging that more is known about brain health now than during his playing days.

“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 said. “If sharing my story helps even one family or one former player, then it’s worth it.”

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Before the video, Craig unveiled his Antesala of Fame bust alongside his son, Rogdrick, and former 49ers teammate and fellow Davenport Central alum Jamie Williams. Rogdrick Craig later told USA TODAY Sports it was “super important” for his father to reveal his diagnosis this way.

“There are a lot of players that deal with this, and they don’t say anything,” Rogdrick Craig said. “We’re big proponents of getting on offense early and making sure you’re talking to your doctor. He just wants to help as many people as possible. He’s the bravest person I know. My hero. I’m so proud of him.”

From Davenport to the Pro Football Antesala of Fame

Craig was born in Preston, Mississippi, in 1960, but grew up in Davenport after his parents moved him and his older brother Curtis there when they were young.

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He played football, wrestled and ran track at Davenport Central High School. In 1976, Craig helped lead the school’s football team to an undefeated record and a 4A state championship. During his senior season, he rushed for 1,565 yards and 27 touchdowns, earning All-American honors.

He graduated in 1979 and went on to play at Nebraska under College Football Antesala of Fame coach Tom Osborne.

At Nebraska, Craig rushed for 2,446 yards and 26 touchdowns across four seasons before being drafted 49th overall by the 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft.

With San Francisco, he became a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro selection during the 1980s. The former Cornhusker was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, when he led the league in yards from scrimmage (2,036) and totaled 10 touchdowns.

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Craig retired in 1993 after stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings. He amassed more than 13,000 total yards and scored 73 touchdowns in his career and was named to the Pro Football Antesala of Fame’s All-1980s team.

“I think about that kid from Davenport who loved football,” Craig said in his speech. “I think about the journey more than anything. The early mornings, the doubts, the sacrifices. It all led here.”

USA TODAY Network reporters Chris Bumbaca and Jarrett Bell contributed to this report.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowan Roger Craig reveals dementia diagnosis at football Antesala of Fame