The Cleveland Browns’ Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers came with a pregame moment that pulled attention away from the standings and straight to the heart of Huntington Bank Field.Kimberly Dunlap Kane, the mother of Bryce Dunlap, served as the Browns’ Dawg Pound Captain for the final home game of the 2025 season. The tribute carried real weight. Bryce Dunlap was the organ donor who saved the life of Browns legend Bernie Kosar, and his family was honored in front of a full stadium before kickoff.
How Bryce Dunlap’s liver donation became the centerpiece of Cleveland’s final home game
Before Kane walked onto the field, the Browns played a recorded message from Kosar on the stadium video board. The timing mattered. This was Cleveland’s last home game of the season and the team chose to center it on gratitude, not football.“I can’t even begin to share how appreciative I am for the gift I received from Bryce Dunlap,” Kosar said. “Everyone please get on your feet, and make some noise and show some support for my hero, Bryce.”Kane then stepped onto the field and smashed a black-and-yellow, Steelers-themed guitar to start the game. It was symbolic, but not theatrical. The moment was about Bryce, not the rivalry.Bryce Dunlap passed away on Nov. 16 at age 21 after complications from an anoxic brain injury. His family selected Kosar as the recipient of Bryce’s liver through a directed donation. Kosar received the transplant on Nov. 17 and was discharged from the hospital on Nov. 24.According to the Browns, the organization and Kosar have remained in contact with the Dunlap family since the transplant. The team confirmed Kane’s Dawg Pound Captain role ahead of kickoff and shared the moment publicly, crediting Bryce directly for Kosar’s recovery.
Bernie Kosar’s message and why this tribute went beyond a typical game-day honor
Kosar was not in attendance for the game, but he shared his support again through social media. His message stayed consistent. This was about honoring Bryce and his family, not celebrating his own recovery.“Hi, Browns fans,” Kosar said in the video posted by the team. “I can’t even begin to share how appreciative I am for the gift I received from Bryce Dunlap. Everyone, please get on your feet and make some noise to show your support for my hero, Bryce. And here to represent Bryce is his mother, Kimberly Dunlap Kane, who’ll be today’s Dawg Pound Captain. You matter, Go Browns.”Kosar has dealt with cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease since 2024, making the transplant necessary. The donation was processed through LifeBanc, a nonprofit organ procurement organization. Kosar shared a recovery update after surgery and has remained publicly thankful to the Dunlap family.The Browns’ decision to center their final home pregame ceremony around Kane reframed the day. It was not about playoff implications or season results. It was about acknowledging the cost of Bryce Dunlap’s gift and the family behind it.Cleveland has hosted many Dawg Pound Captains over the years. This one stood apart. Not because of spectacle, but because it reminded everyone in the building that some moments in the NFL have nothing to do with football and everything to do with life.
