Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins’ Hall of Fame quarterback who now works with the team as a special advisor, revealed Monday morning that he had been diagnosed with a liver disease.
Marino, who turned 64 on Monday, told “People” he has metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH. It was formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
He received the diagnosis in 2007 when he went in for a routine checkup without experiencing any symptoms, outside of being “a little fatigued,” he said in his interview with “People.”
MASH occurs when excess fat cells accumulate in the liver, which can cause chronic inflammation that leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Marino said he’s doing better by fixing his diet and returning to consistent exercise. He believes getting away from both contributed to his diagnosis. Doctors told him it was reversible but he had to lose weight.
Former Dolphins teammate Terry Kirby trains Marino at his nearby gym, according to “People,” while his wife, Claire, joins him for nightly walks and bike rides.
Beyond the exercise, Marino said he let his diet go after retiring following the conclusion of the 1999 NFL season. His doctor recommended a Mediterranean diet, as he has cut back on wine, pizza, candy and ice cream.
The Dolphins great is speaking about his diagnosis and turning his health around now as part of Novo Nordisk’s Unordinary Stories campaign, where athletes share their unique health journeys.
Marino retired with NFL records in completions (4,967), passing yards (61,361) and touchdown passes (420). Records which have since been broken as the passing game in the league has taken off since.