Kathie Lee Gifford Gives ‘Heartbreaking’ Update On Frank Gifford’s Health Battle: ‘He Was Dying Long Before He Died’
December 7, 2023 by Maria Pierides
Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, just gave a heartbreaking update on her late husband Frank Gifford‘s health before he passed away in 2015, and revealed the NFL legend turned broadcaster “was dying long before he died.”
The television personality, along with their son Cody, 33, spoke to People about their final moments with the six-time All-Pro ahead of the commercial release of the documentary Requiem for a Running Back, which explores the effects of the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (also known as CTE) that led to Frank’s death.
Frank Gifford, who spent his entire career with the New York Giants and is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor, is regarded as one of the best players in NFL history. The Monday Night Football anchor died of natural causes at his Connecticut home in 2015 at the age of 84, although his family previously said signs of the degenerative disease were discovered in his brain following his death.
Requiem for a Running Back tells the story of former football star Lewis Carpenter, who was found to have had an advanced form of CTE after his death, and also features Gifford. Kathie Lee and Cody say they hope that the documentary will increase awareness about CTE.