New Season, New Heart for Richardson

Carolina Panthers owner/founder Jerry Richardson didn’t get to hold the Vince Lombardi trophy last night after the Super Bowl, but what he did get was even better than a Super Bowl victory. Richardson was in the market for a new heart after his installed pacemaker/defibrillator failed to help his ongoing heart problems last year, and after being placed on the UNOS (United Network of Organ Sharing) heart transplant waiting list in December, he finally got one and had the surgery last night as the Pittsburgh Steelers were battling the Arizona Cardinals.

Richardson underwent a successful five hour heart transplant surgery last night performed by Dr. Mark Stiegel and Dr. Eric Skipper at Carolinas Medical Center, and he is now resting in the post operative cardiovascular recovery unit. The recovery time expected for heart transplant patients is between three and six months, which means Richardson should be going strong again in time for next year’s football season to commence.

72-year-old Richardson has had heart problems since 2002, when he underwent coronary bypass surgery. He has been the Carolina Panthers owner since 1993, when he was awarded the expansion franchise and thereby became the first former NFL player since George Halas to own an NFL team.

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