From Gridiron to Green: The Bernie Kosar Story

What do a former NFL quarterback and an organic mattress company have in common? A hometown!

Bernie Kosar, a nine-season Cleveland Browns quarterback, is a Northeast Ohio legend. Naturepedic, headquartered just outside Cleveland, shares this hometown connection with Kosar – and that’s not all we have in common.

Known for his determination and resilience, Kosar spent years enduring the physical demands of professional football. Like many athletes, his post-career journey led him to rethink wellness, prioritizing health and recovery in a whole new way.

Now, Kosar is embracing organic living and sustainable choices, proving that positive change is always possible. His commitment to wellness aligns perfectly with Naturepedic’s mission – because better health starts with better choices.

Keep reading to learn more about Kosar’s journey, what led him to organic living and how we’re teaming up to bring you sleep that is, in a word, game-changing. And he would know.

Playing in the NFL is brutal. Over his 12 career seasons, Bernie Kosar endured relentless hits, high-impact collisions and the physical toll of professional football. Football demanded toughness, and Kosar delivered, playing through injuries and pushing past pain. But while fans saw a fearless leader on the field, behind the scenes, his body was breaking down.

“I retired from playing football in 1997,” Kosar shared in an interview with Naturepedic. “Fast-forward to 2024, I’ve had probably north of 60 surgeries, 80 broken bones, 100 plus concussions. I’ve had 14 or 15 seizures, the last couple seizures in comas for 72 and 96 hours.”

Kosar’s post-career health struggles were staggering. He suffered from chronic pain, memory loss and neurological decline, followed by a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and early-stage dementia – conditions that made even simple daily tasks challenging.

He experienced seizures that struck without warning and even slipped into comas, leaving him in a constant state of uncertainty. Doctors prescribed an endless cycle of medications – painkillers, anti-inflammatories and neurological drugs – but they only masked the symptoms, never addressing the root cause. Worse, the side effects created problems of their own.  

Determined to take control of his health, Kosar began exploring alternatives beyond conventional medicine. He adopted a regimen centered on juicing, black coffee and targeted supplementation – focusing on food as medicine while cutting out processed foods linked to inflammation.

He also embraced the power of positive thinking, believing that mindset plays a crucial role in healing. Visualization, affirmations and focusing on progress became part of his recovery approach.

As he dug deeper, Kosar began researching the effects of toxins on overall well-being. This journey led him to organic living, where reducing exposure to harmful substances and prioritizing natural solutions became a guiding principle in his pursuit of better health. One of those solutions being, of course, healthy sleep. 

For Kosar, organic living isn’t just about diet. It touches every part of life – including where he rests his head at night. 

One of the most significant revelations in Kosar’s health journey was the importance of sleep, as quality rest is essential for cellular repair, brain function and long-term well-being. When he talks about common sleep gripes like brain fog, aches and pains, he says people should consider “their bedroom environment and the toxins that go through the air ducts and what they’re sleeping on, a multiple-decade-old bed made with chemicals and toxins.”  

“You’re starting yourself in the hole right there,” Kosar says.

Switching to an organic mattress was a game-changer. By eliminating exposure to unnecessary chemicals and embracing materials that align with his commitment to wellness, he found that his sleep improved, helping him to wake up feeling more refreshed and supported in his recovery.

“Putting your body in the best possible situation, the best mechanism possible to allow it to heal itself,” Kosar advocates, “it absolutely starts with where and how much you’re sleeping.” 

For Kosar, prioritizing health wasn’t just about his own recovery – it was about protecting his family. When his granddaughter was born, he knew he couldn’t ignore what he had learned about toxins in everyday products, especially in something as essential as a crib mattress. And Kosar’s concerns echoed the very reason Naturepedic was founded. 

In 2003, Board-Certified Environmental Engineer Barry A. Cik was searching for a crib mattress for his first grandchild. What he found instead were options made with questionable chemicals, harmful waterproofing, potential allergens and hazardous flame retardants. Unwilling to accept that these were the only choices, Barry decided to create something better – not just for his family, but for families everywhere – and that something better was Naturepedic.

Both of these grandfathers' decisions to choose Naturepedic for their grandchildren were about so much more than comfort – they were about peace of mind. When speaking of his daughter and granddaughter, Kosar told us bluntly, “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t find something like [Naturepedic] to provide for them.”

Today, Kosar is passionate about sharing his experience and inspiring others to make better choices for their health, whether that’s through his coffee brand, Kosar Coffee, or partnering with like-minded brands – like Naturepedic! 

He speaks openly about his transition to organic living and the benefits he has experienced: “To be able to be sitting here, not medicated and not on pills, and actually feeling good, is a direct correlation to the lifestyle I’ve chosen.”

Kosar’s journey is a testament to the idea that wellness is an ongoing process, one that requires mindfulness, education and commitment, and if you take any of his advice, let it be this:

“Start with the simple things like Naturepedic. Start with your bed. It doesn't take much of your time to make simple changes. You don’t have to make them all at once. Start with a step or two. You’ll see the differences.”

Victory starts the night before – shop Bernie’s organic sleep picks.