Burroughs football community reacts to Erik Kramer’s reported suicide attempt
Members of the Burroughs High football community expressed feelings of shock, disbelief and sorrow after learning about the tragedy involving former Indians player and 10-year NFL veteran Erik Kramer.
Kramer, 50, a 1982 Burroughs graduate, is being treated for injuries he sustained Tuesday night after a reported suicide attempt in a motel in Calabasas.
He was found by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, according to NBC News, which cited law enforcement sources. He was taken by helicopter to the hospital and the injury was described as a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Kramer’s former wife, Marshawn, told NBC News late Wednesday that the NFL veteran had attempted suicide after suffering from years of depression that was a direct result of his time spent in the NFL.
“He is a very amazing man, a beautiful soul, but he has suffered depression since he was with the [Chicago] Bears,” Marshawn Kramer told NBC News. “I can promise you he is not the same man I married. ... He’s such a good dad and he would not do this to his son. This is a brain injury.”
After being married for more than 20 years, the two divorced in 2010 and have a 17-year-old son.
“I know Erik and I would still be together if not for his football injury,” she said.
Erik Kramer reportedly struggled with the death of his son, Griffen, who died of a heroin overdose in 2011 at the age of 18. Griffen, who had battled drug addiction in the past, was a quarterback at Thousand Oaks High at the time of his death.
“It has not been easy,” Erik Kramer told the Chicago Tribune in 2012. “I have been going through a divorce for the last two years. It has only added to it. It has been very difficult.”
Jay Gudzin was a coach for the Indians in 1981 when Kramer played one season for Burroughs.
“I was very shocked when I woke up [Thursday] morning, turned on the news and saw the story about Erik,” said Gudzin, a former head football coach and athletic director at Burroughs. “I think a lot of us were really surprised to find that out.
“I remember him as a talented player who was super fast, smart and strong and he did work hard to get to where he eventually got to in the NFL. ... It’s a real tragedy what happened to him.”
Current Burroughs football Coach Keith Knoop said any sad news about a former Indians player is felt by the program.
“I really don’t know him, but it is really surprising to hear,” Knoop said. “I think something like this does affect a lot of people.”
Although he enjoyed a 10-year career as an NFL quarterback, Kramer wasn’t a starting signal-caller for Burroughs in his only season with the program as a senior in 1981. After transferring from St. Genevieve, he saw limited time at quarterback for the Indians that year, usually late in games when the team had the contest well in hand. However, he did earn All-Foothill League second-team honors as a defensive back.
Kramer was relegated to a back-up that season for the Indians because they had All-CIF Southern Section player Rich Strasser as their starting quarterback.
After Burroughs, Kramer attended and played quarterback at L.A. Pierce College and then transferred to North Carolina State.
Undrafted into the NFL, Kramer first saw time in 1987, playing for the Atlanta Falcons as a replacement player during the NFL players strike. He also played for the Detroit Lions (1991-1993), Chicago Bears (1994-1998) and San Diego Chargers (1999), along with the Calgary Stampeders (1988-1990) of the Canadian Football League.
Starting in 67 games during his NFL career, Kramer had 1,317 completions for 15,337 yards and 92 touchdowns with 79 interceptions and a passer rating of 76.6. He also competed in four playoff games during his career.
In 1995, Kramer set Chicago single-season records for touchdown passes (29) and passing yards (3,838). Kramer also helped Detroit earn its last playoff win in January of 1991, as he threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-6 playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys to earn a spot in the conference championship game.
Inducted into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, Kramer was also honored as one of the Burbank Leader Players of the Century in 2000.
“I think it’s very sad because Erik’s such a nice guy,” said Burroughs Athletic Director Marty Garrison, who also coordinates the school’s Hall of Fame. “He was excited about coming back and being inducted in our Hall of Fame and I think he really enjoyed the honor.
“It’s just been tough what he’s gone through with his son and he’s had to deal with a lot of things the last few years. I just hope he gets better and he can recover.”
