Mark Bavaro, the former New York Giants tight end, revered as a two-time Super Bowl champion and the embodiment of blue-collar grit, recently shared his harrowing journey battling long-term COVID-19. In an exclusive interview with Gary Myers, detailed in the forthcoming book “Once A Giant,” Bavaro unveils the darkest chapter of his life.
On a sunny afternoon at his New England home, you’d never guess that behind the facade of New England charm lies a story of unimaginable struggle. Rows of prescription bottles in his kitchen, remnants of a painful past, bear witness to Bavaro’s torment during his six-month war with the insidious virus.
“It was as if I was on top of a burning building, wondering how long I could endure before jumping off,” Bavaro recalled, speaking about his darkest moments. The toll of COVID-19 had unleashed a relentless onslaught of anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, and pounding headaches. At times, he contemplated the unthinkable, a bleak struggle for survival.
In a stunning revelation, Bavaro pondered whether the years of head-rattling hits during his football career had made him more susceptible to this invisible enemy. “Once a Giant” delves into this uncharted territory, where the price of being a football legend becomes an existential question.
Bavaro’s tale is intertwined with the tragic stories of former NFL colleagues like Dave Duerson, Andre “Dirty” Waters, and Junior Seau, all diagnosed with CTE, all lost to suicide. The haunting question lingered: Can life ever get so unbearable that leaving behind loved ones seems like the only option?
As he fought COVID-19’s physical and mental onslaught, Bavaro began to understand their agonizing choices. He admitted to contemplating various methods of ending his suffering. “I wished I was dead. I wished that somehow, I would just die. Once you get to that point…”
The road to recovery was anything but straightforward. Antidepressants only seemed to intensify his suicidal thoughts, a cruel side effect that added to his torment. The medications intended to alleviate his pain, in a cruel twist, amplified his agony.
But Bavaro’s indomitable spirit, the very essence of ‘Rambo,’ refused to yield. He may have disliked the nickname, considering it disrespectful to Vietnam veterans, but his toughness remained legendary. Even in the face of a broken jaw during a 1986 game, he returned to catch a touchdown pass, propelling the Giants to a triumphant victory.
Bavaro’s health struggles started in April 2021 when he contracted COVID-19, a virus that seemed to target his brain, possibly a consequence of years of football-related head trauma. It was an odyssey of pain and despair, marked by insomnia, panic attacks, and fainting spells, culminating in a traumatic fall that left him battered and bleeding.
But through the unwavering support of his wife Susan and his sons, Bavaro found the strength to endure. The NFL Players Association’s health care plan helped ease the financial burden of his medical expenses, making his recovery journey slightly less arduous.
In September 2021, Bavaro’s lifeline appeared in the form of the NFL Trust program at Massachusetts General Hospital. New medications and compassionate psychiatrists slowly but steadily guided him back from the brink.
As he regained his health, Bavaro didn’t shy away from sharing his story. His openness about the mental toll of COVID-19 and the resilience required to overcome it is an inspiration to many.
In the summer of 2022, he finally felt a semblance of normalcy, returning to his beloved golf. Yet, even this simple pleasure had its price, as a freak accident scratched his retina, adding another layer of adversity to his journey.
Bavaro’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. His willingness to confront the darkest corners of his mind and share his experience offers solace to those who may find themselves in a similar struggle.
The forthcoming book, “Once A Giant,” chronicles this extraordinary journey, highlighting the indomitable spirit of a man who refused to let despair define him. Mark Bavaro’s battle against COVID-19 is not just a story of survival; it’s a tale of triumph over the darkest of nights.
