Alex Karras Kidney Failure: Former Detroit Lions Star Suffering from Life Threatening Condition, Has Only Days to Live

The unfortunate news has surfaced that Alex Karras, a former NFL Detroit Lions star-turned-actor, has been suffering from kidney failure the past two weeks. It is a life-threatening condition, and family and friends of Karras say that the 77-year-old has been given only a few days to live.

"I got a call from Susan last Wednesday or Thursday that he was in the hospital," said Tom McInerney, a longtime friend of Karras' who spoke to his wife Susan Clark on Monday morning. "(His kidneys) gave out on him and legs swelled up and his ankles swelled up and arms, so she said it doesn't look good. They figured probably a couple weeks."

Karras (nicknamed "The Mad Duck") played defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions from 1958-70 and was considered a great star player. He then went on to work for football network telecasts from 1971-1976. His time on/near the turf was followed by a successful acting career - he starred as Mongo in the hit film "Blazing Saddles" and had a reoccurring role on the 1980s sitcom "Webster."

"He said, 'I want to go home,' so knowing Alex she made arrangements for him," continues McInerney about his conversation with Clark. "She talked to me Saturday morning waiting for the ambulance to take him home with her daughter and she was going to let me know. Well, I couldn't get in touch with her yesterday or Saturday and she called me this morning, said, 'It doesn't look too good, Tommy. They're talking probably a couple days.'

McInerney then goes on to describe Karras' deteriorating condition: "[Clark] said if you came out here it wouldn't be worth his while because right now he's talking about he wants to see his (deceased) mother and dad, and he's on morphine, he's on oxygen. She said it's maybe a couple, three days at the most."

Karras is one of the more than 3,000 former NFL players involved in a lawsuit against the professional sports concerning mass concussions. Karras has suffered from numerous health problems in recent years, including dementia and cancer.

According to the general manager of Clark Karras Properties Catherine Lincoln, Karras was released from Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica over the weekend and is now under hospice care at his California home. Sons George and Alex Jr. and daughter Katie are currently by their father's side - another son Peter is currently en route to Cali to join the family.

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand released this statement on Monday regarding Karras' ailing health:

"The entire Detroit Lions family is deeply saddened to learn of the news regarding the condition of one of our all-time greats, Alex Karras. Perhaps no player in Lions history attained as much success and notoriety for what he did after his playing days as did Alex.

We know Alex first and foremost as one of the cornerstones to our Fearsome Foursome defensive line of the 1960s and also as one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Many others across the country came to know Alex as an accomplished actor and as an announcer during the early years of Monday Night Football.

We join his legions of fans from both sports and entertainment in prayer and support for Alex, his wife Susan, and his entire family during this most difficult time."