Chicago Bears legend William “The Refrigerator” Perry is still alive and doing “fine” despite trending Internet reports to the contrary, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The newspaper reports Perry’s agent, Adam Plotkin insists “I talked to Michael Dean (Perry’s brother) a few minutes ago. And I know the Bears were down there interviewing Fridge on Saturday for coach Mike Ditka’s jersey retirement. But I did talk to Michael Dean, and he had gotten some calls, too, and Michael Dean said it was OK to confirm that Fridge is fine."
Michael Dean Perry also played seven years in the NFL, mainly with the Cleveland Browns. Plotkin later added “I guess someone called Michael Dean and said that someone found out that someone named William Perry died, but it wasn’t the Fridge. Someone from Clemson called us as well and said they had been getting a lot of calls and stuff. He is completely fine."
Perry’s health has been a major concern for years as he has suffered from the sometimes life-threatening effects of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease that hinders the peripheral nervous system and causes progressive weakness. Four years ago he was hospitalized for five months and was forced to use a wheelchair.
Perry helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX during his rookie season as a 350-pound lineman and occasional short-yardage runner and receiver. He scored three touchdowns as a rookie, including a 1-yard plunge against the rival Packers in 1985 that sparked his legend.
The erroneous tweet came from a Clemson University account, where Perry played collegiately. “I would know if my brother was dead.’ So someone started something that is not there,” Michael Dean told The Tribune.
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