© Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
News broke on Monday that 73-year-old former New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey tested positive for COVID-19. He was just the latest of a number of former professional athletes to be stricken with the virus.
We now have some good news to report on this front. The Saints released a statement through their official website on Tuesday announcing that Dempsey has been cleared of COVID-19.
Dempsey was living in the Lambeth House Retirement Community in New Orleans at the time of his diagnosis. Said communities have been among the hardest hit around the United States. Add in Dempsey’s advanced age, and it’s great news that he’s recovered from an illness that has now cost north of 3,000 American lives.
Dempsey’s rise to fame included him booting a then-record 63-yard field goal as a member of the Saints back in 1970.
The 11-year NFL veteran has been battling both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia since 2013. At the very least, it’s great to see that he’s on the road to recovery from COVID-19.