#407 NFL and Kansas City Chiefs Star Art Still on the Missed Signs of Hereditary Amyloidosis
What happens when the symptoms of a genetic condition look like the lasting effects of a professional football career?
Former NFL defensive end and Kansas City Chiefs star Art Still spent decades attributing carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, back problems, joint and tendon injuries, neuropathy, and other health concerns to football, aging, and ordinary wear and tear. Even when he developed atrial fibrillation, Art’s lifelong discipline and athlete mentality made him believe he could manage his health on his own.
Art and his wife, Liz Still, join host Kira Dineen to share how those seemingly disconnected symptoms were eventually traced to hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, also known as hereditary ATTR or hATTR amyloidosis.
During evaluations through the NFL Player Care Foundation wellness program, Art’s healthcare providers looked beyond his individual symptoms and asked about his family health history. That conversation revealed a striking pattern: relatives with serious cardiac, neurologic, and mobility-related conditions, including Art’s older brother, who received a heart transplant, and his nephew, who lived with sickle cell disease and had previously tested positive for the same TTR variant.
Genetic testing confirmed that Art carries the V122I variant, also called p.Val142Ile or V142I, in the TTR gene. This variant is found in approximately 3–4% of Black Americans, or about 1 in 25, although carrying it does not necessarily mean someone will develop amyloidosis.
For Art and Liz, the diagnosis provided answers, but it also raised questions for their 11 children, 28th grandchild on the way, and extended family. They discuss navigating family conversations about inherited health risks, the value of genetic testing, Art’s evolving trust in healthcare, and why following a treatment plan matters.
Through their nonprofit, Still 4 Life, Art and Liz now offer free community presentations focused on awareness, earlier detection, family health history, and self-advocacy. Their goal is to make complicated medical information easier to understand and reach people who may otherwise dismiss their symptoms or hesitate to seek care.
Episode Discussion Topics
How Art’s “no pain, no gain” athlete mentality shaped his response to symptoms
Why professional athletes may normalize pain and avoid disclosing injuries
The symptoms Art initially attributed to football, including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, back problems, neuropathy, joint and tendon injuries, and a torn biceps
Why a torn biceps can be a potential warning sign of transthyretin amyloidosis
Liz’s early belief that Art’s symptoms were natural consequences of his football career
When Art’s cardiac symptoms caused Liz to realize something else might be happening
Art’s history of atrial fibrillation and his initial resistance to medication
His evaluations through the NFL Player Care Foundation wellness program
The family health history questions that helped connect Art’s seemingly unrelated symptoms
His brother’s heart transplant
His nephew’s sickle cell disease, amyloidosis, and earlier genetic test result
Why Art’s nephew was originally evaluated for Marfan syndrome
How genetic testing identified Art’s V122I TTR variant
The relief of finally understanding the cause of Art’s health problems
How the diagnosis changed conversations with their 11 children and extended family
Why family health history may be one of the most valuable legacies a family can preserve
The difference between carrying a genetic variant and developing symptoms
Why ancestry can help identify risk but should not be used to exclude someone from consideration
Art’s mistrust of the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and how his perspective evolved
What happened when Art reduced and stopped his heart medication without medical guidance
Why finding a healthcare team that explains the purpose of treatment is so important
How Liz advocated for Art when she realized he was not following his prescribed treatment plan
The importance of asking questions and making healthcare decisions with qualified clinicians
How Art uses humor and personal storytelling to make medical information approachable
Why Art and Liz founded Still 4 Life
Meeting people where they are through free community education
Encouraging families to discuss their health history and advocate for one another
Turning a hereditary diagnosis into a game plan for a healthier community
About Hereditary ATTR Amyloidosis
Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is caused by a disease-associated variant in the TTR gene. The variant makes the transthyretin protein more likely to misfold and accumulate as amyloid deposits in organs and tissues.
Depending on the individual and the specific variant, hereditary ATTR amyloidosis can affect the heart, peripheral nerves, autonomic nervous system, digestive system, kidneys, and other parts of the body. Possible warning signs can include cardiomyopathy, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal stenosis, tendon injuries, swelling, and digestive symptoms.
Because these concerns are often evaluated by different specialists, and may be attributed to more common conditions, the underlying diagnosis can be missed for years.
Art carries the V122I variant, which is also referred to as V142I or p.Val142Ile under current genetic nomenclature. It is particularly prevalent among people with West African ancestry and is found in approximately 3–4% of Black Americans; however, genetic variants do not conform neatly to racial categories.
Not everyone who inherits a disease-associated TTR variant develops amyloidosis. Anyone concerned about personal symptoms or family history should discuss appropriate evaluation and testing with a qualified healthcare professional.
About Art Still
Art Still is a former NFL defensive end, College Football Hall of Fame inductee, and rare disease advocate. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the second overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft and played 12 professional seasons with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
During his decade in Kansas City, Art earned four Pro Bowl selections and was named the Chiefs’ Most Valuable Player twice. After years of orthopedic, neurologic, and cardiac symptoms, Art was diagnosed with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in 2023.
Art now uses the same team-oriented mindset that shaped his football career to educate communities about amyloidosis, family health history, early detection, and self-advocacy.
About Liz Still
Liz Still is Art’s wife, care partner, and advocacy partner. She initially believed that many of Art’s symptoms resulted from his years in professional football. When his cardiac problems became more serious, she recognized that something else might be happening and became an important advocate throughout his diagnostic and treatment journey.
Following Art’s hereditary amyloidosis diagnosis, Liz helped research the condition, understand its implications for their family, and communicate the information to their children and relatives. She now works alongside Art through Still 4 Life, helping families recognize the importance of asking questions, sharing family health history, and advocating for the people they love.
Still 4 Life
Art and Liz founded Still 4 Life to increase awareness and encourage earlier detection of amyloidosis and other rare diseases.
Through free community presentations, they share Art’s personal experience in approachable language and encourage people to:
Learn and document their family health history
Discuss patterns of illness with relatives
Pay attention to symptoms that may appear unrelated
Ask healthcare providers questions
Advocate for themselves and their loved ones
Learn whether a genetics evaluation may be appropriate
Seek medical guidance before changing prescribed treatment
Community organizations, healthcare professionals, and other groups interested in hosting an educational presentation can connect with Art and Liz through Still4Life.org.
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