Hall of Fame NFL fullback Joe Perry, who spent the vast majority of his 14 professional seasons with the San Fransisco 49ers, passed away on Monday at the age of 84. A tough-running back who reached the 1,000-yard and 10-touchdown milestones for one season on two occasions in his career, Perry was described by the New York Times as "one of the first black stars in modern professional football."
Joe Perry Dies: Concussions Possibly Linked To Hall Of Famer’s Health Problems
He was the first African-American to play for the San Francisco 49ers, and he was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, he is yet another former NFL player whose family has linked his health problems to concussions sustained while playing in the NFL.
Perry’s wife, Donna, claims that he had dementia for 10 years, and that his physician believed that the condition was caused by concussions that Perry sustained while playing football. Perry had been receiving financial benefits from the National Football League up until his passing. Donna Perry said that Perry’s brain will be donated to Boston University, which is conducting an extensive study on the affect of concussions on the brain.
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