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Roger Craig has been diagnosed with vascular dementia, the longtime San Francisco 49ers running back revealed Saturday during his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech. He said his doctors believe it could be related to the concussions he sustained in his playing career.
Craig, who turned 66 last month, attended his enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, but delivered his remarks in a prerecorded video.
“Two things can be true,” Craig said. “Football gave me opportunities beyond anything I could imagine. It helped shape the man I became. At the same time, we know more today about brain health than when I played, and I hope sharing my story encourages people to pay attention to their health and seek help when something doesn’t feel right.”
Roger Craig’s wait is over! @ProFootballHOF Enshrinement on ESPN/NFLN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/StN4MX1XY8— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2026
During a weekend meant to celebrate football’s history with the induction of five Hall of Famers, Craig’s announcement was a sobering reminder of the sport’s dangers.
He was the fourth inductee to speak Saturday and was joined on stage by his son, Roderick Craig, and his presenter, longtime teammate and former NFL tight end, Jamie Williams. The trio unveiled Craig’s bronze Hall of Fame bust, with Craig stroking the statue head and smiling for a picture while giving a thumbs-up.
Craig said that his intention for sharing his diagnosis is to help others who may be experiencing a similar situation.
“The changes were gradual,” he said. “At first, they were easy to dismiss as normal aging. Over time, my family noticed it, too. Ultimately, it led us to seek answers from my doctor.”
Craig was a staple during San Francisco’s dominant run through the 1980s, winning three Super Bowls alongside fellow Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott, among others. In 1985, Craig became the first player in NFL history to top 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in a single season. In 1988, Craig won Offensive Player of the Year while also earning his lone First-Team All-Pro nod.
Craig finished his NFL career with one season with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1991 and a couple of years with the Minnesota Vikings. He retired from the NFL after the 1993 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a senior candidate in his 28th year of eligibility.
“We weren’t chasing numbers; we were chasing Ws — wins,” Craig said of his time with the 49ers. “I didn’t realize I was making history (with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in one season). It just felt like we were doing something special, as a team. Looking back, I appreciate how difficult it is and how few players have done it since.”
Dementia is a general term for a cognitive decline that carries symptoms affecting memory, thinking and speech, among other neurological conditions. Vascular dementia is a specific type of dementia that is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. It is the second-most common type of dementia, behind Alzheimer’s disease, according to alzheimers.gov.
“I want people to know this diagnosis doesn’t define me,” Craig said. “I am still Roger Craig. I am still a father, a husband, a teammate, a friend and someone who loves this game and the people who brought it to my life. If sharing my story helps even one family or one former player, then it’s worth it. Football gave me everything.”
In the past year, the families of several former NFL players, believing head injuries had played a role in their deaths, donated their brains to be examined for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The results for Marshawn Kneeland, a Dallas Cowboys defensive end who died by suicide in November, and Steve McMichael, a Hall of Fame player for the Chicago Bears who died in April of complications from ALS, were publicly revealed and showed both had CTE, which often results from repeated hits to the head.
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