Dan Marino reveals 18-year battle with fatty liver disease
Hall of Famer speaks in Novo Nordisk awareness campaign after FDA cleared weight‑loss drug for MASH
Dan Marino says he has quietly lived with metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatohepatitis, commonly known as fatty liver disease or MASH, since 2007 and is using a new awareness campaign to urge early detection and lifestyle management.
The 64‑year‑old Hall of Fame quarterback, speaking in interviews tied to a Novo Nordisk campaign, said the condition is manageable with timely care and routine checkups. "Novo Nordisk is a company that I wanted to get involved with because they're trying to make a difference," Marino told Fox News. "It's manageable with early detection. So, go to your doctor and get your normal checkups like you always do."
Marino said his diagnosis in 2007 followed a period in which he "kind of let [his] diet go," and that physicians emphasized diet, exercise and consistency as the primary means of reversing the condition. He told People that doctors told him MASH "can be reversible, it can be taken care of," and stressed daily activity such as walking or biking. Marino said he still works out with former Miami Dolphins teammate Terry Kirby and regularly bikes with his wife, Claire.
MASH is a form of fatty liver disease that can lead to liver damage and is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis. According to the campaign materials, the condition affects roughly 1 in 20 Americans — about 15 million people — making it a significant public‑health concern.
The awareness push by Novo Nordisk, titled "Unordinary stories," features testimonials from Marino and other high‑profile athletes and patients, including WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes. The campaign followed an FDA approval of Novo Nordisk's weight‑loss drug Wegovy for the treatment of adults with MASH and moderate‑to‑advanced liver fibrosis; the company launched the initiative about a month after that regulatory action. Marino's compensation for participating in the campaign has not been disclosed.
Marino's public remarks come as experts emphasize early detection and lifestyle intervention as key steps in managing MASH. Health professionals typically recommend monitoring liver health through routine medical checkups and addressing underlying metabolic issues such as obesity and diabetes.
A 17‑year NFL veteran who played for the Miami Dolphins, Marino is widely regarded as one of the game's greatest passers. He ranks among the leaders in career statistics, with 420 touchdown passes and 61,361 passing yards, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Marino used his platform in the campaign to encourage others to seek evaluation and stay consistent with diet and exercise. "If you get diagnosed with fatty liver and MASH, doing the things you need to do, like I talked about — diet, working out — and staying consistent with it, that's what our message really is," he told People.
He concluded by urging routine medical care: "It's manageable with early detection," he said. "So, go to your doctor and get your normal checkups like you always do."