1. George Anthony Visger was born on September 26,1958 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League.
19 Facts About George Visger
1. 2.
George Visger was selected to the 1975 Top 100 High School All-American team.
3.
From 1976 to 1979, George Visger attended the University of Colorado on a football scholarship, where he majored in Fisheries Biology and made the traveling squad as a true freshman.
4.
George Visger was a three-year starter, earning honorable mention for All Big Eight and the Regiment Award in 1979.
5.
In 1980, George Visger was selected by the New York Jets in the 6th round of the NFL draft, ultimately playing with the San Francisco 49ers in 1980 and 1981.
6.
George Visger sustained a major concussion in the first quarter of a Dallas game in 1980, yet he played the entire game by clearing his head with smelling salts each time he came off the field.
7.
Early in the following 1981 season, George Visger underwent his first knee surgery.
8.
Four months after their Super Bowl XVI victory, George Visger underwent two additional brain surgeries 10 hours apart and was given last rites.
9.
George Visger returned to school to complete his biology degree in 1986.
10.
George Visger survived five additional emergency VP Shunt brain surgeries and several gran mal seizures in 1987 while enrolled in Chemistry and Physics courses and earning a Class B General Contractor's license.
11.
George Visger began his career as a wildlife biologist-environmental consultant in 1990 and has now survived nine emergency VP shunt brain surgeries.
12.
George Visger has become a well-known expert on traumatic brain injuries.
13.
George Visger has been featured on NPR, CNN, CBS Evening News, ESPN Outside The Lines, Slate Magazine, and specials in London, England, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
14.
George Visger consults directly with Dr Rich Ellenbogen of the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Injury Group on rule changes to reduce TBI in football.
15.
George Visger has recommended NFL rule changes to address the issue.
16.
George Visger conducts motivational seminars, is writing a full-length biography, and co-authored an eBook memoir with Irv Muchnick, Out of My Head; My Life In and Out of Football, which was published on January 30,2012.
17.
Outside the Lines featured George Visger chronicling his life after football and getting through his day-to-day routine after his nine brain surgeries.
18.
George Visger is a well-known advocate for all traumatic brain injury survivors, has presented at Congressional hearings on TBI, the Brain Injury Association annual conferences, and coordinates with the California Community Colleges Disabled Student Program Services and Veterans Resource Centers.
19.
George Visger is featured in Todd Trigsted's upcoming movie, Gladiators: The Uncertain Future of American Football.