A former NFL linebacker is currently in hospice care at his parent’s home in Georgia after fighting liver disease for the past two years. Geno Hayes, 33, told ESPN he’s been placed on the waiting list for a transplant at the Mayo Clinic and Northwestern Medicine in December after being hospitalized over 20 times in the past year.
“The first diagnosis they gave me was alcoholic cirrhosis,” Hayes told ESPN before entering the hospital in March. “But when we dug in deeper, it became just chronic liver disease, because I don’t drink like that. If I did drink, it was just like wine or something like that. But my body is made different. And that’s what [my doctor] said – ‘Everybody’s made different.’”
Videos by PopCulture.com
Hayles also said he went from 220 pounds to 150 when he was first diagnosed. He believes the use of nonprescription pain medications is what caused the condition along with a family history of liver disease. “I didn’t do like regular guys do with the Toradol shots … I just took [NSAIDs],” Hayes said. “I thought it was safer. But once I got out and started doing research, I was like, ‘Oh … my body is not set up for this.’”
Hayes first kept his diagnosis private and went into “supreme depression.” He also said he would not let his children see him when he was in the hospital. But as time went on, Hayes began to enjoy his life and share his story with others who are in the same situation.
“I’m enjoying life, I’m spending more time with my kids and I really want to help people,” Hayes said. “My main goal is to just inspire, to inspire the next person, no matter what they’re going through, no matter who talks bad about them – family, friends, social media, all of that crap – it don’t matter. You take care of you. Make sure you’re straight. That’s all I want to do.”
Hayes was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. He played four seasons with the Buccaneers before signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears in 2012. After spending one season in Chicago, Hayes signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his career, Hays recorded 401 tackles, 10 sacks and six interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.
Most Viewed
-
(Credit: Rafa Jodar / Getty Images) -
NORTH BERGEN, NJ – AUGUST 23: Exterior view of a Walmart store on August 23, 2020 in North Bergen, New Jersey. Walmart saw its profits jump in latest quarter as e-commerce sales surged during the coronavirus pandemic (Photo by Kena Betancur/VIEWpress via Getty Images) -
A ring of vibrant marigold flowers with glowing candles at the center, set against a dark background. (Credit: Eduardo Monroy Husillos / Getty Images) -
Netflix logo is displayed during the 'Paris Games Week' on November 02, 2017 in Paris, France. (Credit: Chesnot / Getty Images) -
Official promotional artwork for <em>The Voice</em> -
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 29: The Rose Parade letters and 2026 theme "The Magic in Teamwork" at the Tournament of Roses House on December 29, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
