Sam Wyche

Organ recipient

Age 72 – South Carolina

Honored by Carolinas Medical Center, Donate Life SC, LifeShare Of The Carolinas and Sharing Hope SC

Sam is a former NFL Quarterback and head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Diagnosed with heart failure a few years ago, Sam was able to go on with his daily activities for a while, until his health deteriorated to the point that the only option for seeing his next birthday was a heart transplant. His chances were best described as the medical equivalent of a “Hail Mary” football pass.

Sam was placed on the waiting list, and as time passed by without a good match, he was about to be sent to hospice care. However, right before he was released from the hospital, he received the news that a heart had been found. The transplant was successful and, within a couple of weeks, Sam regained his strength. He continues to show his gratitude for his donor and for the gift he has been given by participating in talks to local and national groups, as well as interviews and meetings with others in need of transplants.

Sam’s Story

The word teamwork took on a new meaning for Sam Wyche in September of 2016. This time however, it wasn’t a game that was on the line but his very life itself.

Sam is a former NFL Quarterback and head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is one of only four people in the history of the NFL to have participated in three Super Bowls at different levels. He was a player with the Washington Red Skins, an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers and a head coach with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Several years ago, Sam was diagnosed with heart failure, but for the most part, it did not interfere with his daily activities. That was until the day he had trouble walking up the driveway to his South Carolina home and his wife realized he needed to see his doctor right away.

The news was not what he wanted to hear. Sam was told that his best and only option for seeing his next birthday was a heart transplant. His chances were best described as the medical equivalent of a “Hail Mary” football pass.

Sam was placed on the waiting list at Carolinas Medical Center and the days ticked by. Medically, time had run out and with no heart available, he was told he was being sent home with a referral to Hospice. Before he could be released from the hospital however, his son and his grandson, independent of each other, gathered their own high school teams and asked them to pray for Sam.

Shortly afterwards, Sam got the call of a lifetime. The news was better than any of his football championships. A heart, a good match, had been found.