NFLPA’s Plan 88 Assisting Former Players With Dementia

Sylvia Mackey never imagined that a heartfelt letter she wrote would be a factor in the creation of a new benefit to help players suffering from dementia. She simply wanted to tell her husband John’s story and ask for help.

John Mackey, like many other former players, suffers from dementia, and the late NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw wanted to do something about it.

“Gene wanted to take care of John and players like him” said NFLPA Director of Benefits Miki Yaras-Davis. “Taking care of players was always at the top of his list.” So Upshaw got to work, and the result was an agreement with former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the NFL that would create a first-of-its-kind benefit for professional athletes.

The NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council created Plan 88 to assist players who have been diagnosed with dementia and are vested in the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan. The plan was named in honor of former NFLPA President and Hall of Famer Mackey, who wore the number 88 throughout his career with the Baltimore Colts.

Plan 88 pays the cost of medical and custodial care for eligible players. For players who receive care as an in-patient, the plan pays up to $88,000. For players who receive out-patient care, the plan pays up to $50,000.

Today, Plan 88 pays for a caregiver for Mackey, which means Sylvia can go to work knowing her husband is in safe hands. “There is great comfort and relief in the 88 Plan,” she said. “I am so happy to see dignity restored to families of players like John.” Without the plan’s assistance Sylvia would have likely needed to leave her job and stay home to care for her husband—a challenging task, even for skilled caregivers.

Mackey, 67, was a revolutionary NFL player. Only the second tight end to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the 6’2” Syracuse University standout was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1963. He played nine seasons in Baltimore and finished his 10-year career with the San Diego Chargers. Known for his breakaway speed, strong blocking and ability to avoid tackles, Mackey played in two Super Bowls and five Pro Bowls, and he was named the NFL’s all-League tight end three years in a row. He was the first president of the NFLPA and had a tremendous impact on the NFL’s labor structure.

Though still carrying his legendary strength and agility, the John Mackey of today is a different man. He is often confused, forgetful and unable to do simple tasks. Sylvia wonders just how long she will be able to keep John at home. “It helps to know that when John needs go into a nursing home,” she said, “the plan will be there.”

Robert Gene Hickerson’s family faced a similar situation when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Hall of Fame guard was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1957 draft. He quickly established himself as the lead blocker for three Hall of Fame running backs–Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. Hickerson was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls and helped the Browns become a powerful team that never had a losing season during his 15-year career.

Today, Hickerson, 73, is still an avid football fan. He has a good routine in his nursing care facility and lots of contact from family and friends. Though he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was wheelchair-bound at his August 2007 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, his son Bob said that he seemed to know what was going on. When his fellow inductees, led by Thurman Thomas, personally congratulated Hickerson, everyone could see that he was touched.

According to Bob Hickerson, the plan has “eased many financial burdens” for his father, who is otherwise in good health.

Plan records show that several former NFL players, like Mackey and Hickerson, have applied for and received benefits. According to Yaras-Davis, the need for this type of benefit was clear. “We are very pleased to have been able to come to an agreement to put this plan in place for those players who are suffering,” she said. “Gene Upshaw was proud that so many NFL families are receiving much-needed help from this plan.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s and other related dementias affect millions of Americans each year, with Alzheimer’s being the most common. Some of the warning signs include memory loss, confusion, disorientation, language difficulty, changes in mood, personality or behavior, judgment and thinking problems and difficulty performing familiar tasks. Both Mackey and Hickerson showed many of these warning signs.

Sylvia Mackey saw the changes early but did not want to believe something was wrong with her husband. “Looking back to 1994, you could tell his speeches weren’t as great; there were just strange things he would do, and it kept getting worse,” she said. In 1997, Mackey pawned his Super Bowl and Hall of Fame rings for no apparent reason. In 2001, the Mackeys found out what was wrong. “It took so long to get the diagnosis (frontotemporal dementia) because I just couldn’t believe there was anything wrong,” Sylvia said. “I just thought he was being difficult, but after a while, I realized something wasn’t right.”

Today, Sylvia speaks to NFL wives and other women’s groups and urges them to follow up if they notice changes in their husband’s behavior. “It is so important to get medical attention, get the brain MRI and find out for sure,” she said, “because the best way to deal with this condition and care for your loved one is to be prepared for what lies ahead.”

- NFL Players.com