Big Ten Network's Matt Millen will leave booth to treat rare illness

Big Ten Network lead football analyst Matt Millen, 60, will return to the broadcast booth in 2018 because he will be receiving treatment for amyloidosis, a disease he has battled since 2011.

According to Mayoclinic.org, amyloidosis (am-uh-law-DO-sis) is a rare disease that occurs when a substance called amyloid builds up in organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein produced in bone marrow that can be deposited in any tissue or organ. Symptoms include swelling in legs and ankles, severe fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, numbness in hands or feet, wrist pain and unintentional weight loss. There are no known cure, but treatments are available.

Millen told Sports Illustrated in May that he may need a heart transplant. At that time, he was receiving chemotherapy.

Millen, a NFL linebacker and Detroit Lions general manager, has been broadcasting on BTN since 2015. He worked with Kevin Kugler.

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