In a powerful moment that transcended sport, the Cleveland Browns' final home game of the 2025 season became a profound tribute to life, sacrifice, and gratitude. During their Week 17 clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field, the pregame ceremony shifted focus from playoff standings to honour a young man whose ultimate gift saved a franchise legend.
A Mother's Tribute on the Field
The emotional centrepiece was Kimberly Dunlap Kane, who took the field as the Browns' Dawg Pound Captain. This honour carried immense weight, as she is the mother of Bryce Dunlap, the 21-year-old organ donor whose liver saved the life of Cleveland Browns icon Bernie Kosar. Before Kane's entrance, a recorded message from Kosar played on the stadium's giant screen, setting a tone of deep appreciation for the day.
"I can’t even begin to share how appreciative I am for the gift I received from Bryce Dunlap," Kosar said in the video. He urged the packed stadium to rise and make noise for "my hero, Bryce." Following this, Kane performed the traditional pregame act of smashing a black-and-yellow, Steelers-themed guitar—a symbolic gesture that, on this day, was about far more than a rivalry.
The Story Behind the Gift
The connection between the Dunlap family and Bernie Kosar is both tragic and life-affirming. Bryce Dunlap passed away on November 16 due to complications from an anoxic brain injury. In their time of profound grief, his family made the directed donation, choosing Kosar as the recipient for Bryce's liver. The transplant surgery took place on November 17, and Kosar was discharged from the hospital just one week later, on November 24.
Kosar's health struggles have been public. Since 2024, he has been battling cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson's disease, making the transplant medically necessary. The process was facilitated by LifeBanc, a nonprofit organ procurement organisation. The Browns organisation confirmed that they and Kosar have maintained close contact with the Dunlap family since the life-saving procedure.
A Ceremony That Redefined Game Day
The Browns' decision to frame their final home pregame around this story reframed the entire day. It was not about wins, losses, or postseason calculations. Instead, it was a raw and public acknowledgment of the cost of Bryce Dunlap's gift and the family who made an impossible decision. While the Dawg Pound Captain tradition has featured many figures over the years, this ceremony stood uniquely apart—not for spectacle, but for its heartfelt reminder of humanity.
Although not physically present at the game, Bernie Kosar reiterated his gratitude on social media, sharing the team's video with a consistent message: the day was about honouring Bryce and his family, not his own recovery. The tribute successfully pulled attention, however briefly, away from the ferocious NFL rivalry on the field and directed it toward a narrative of compassion and connection that resonates far beyond the gridiron.
