Former Chicago Bears lineman William "Refrigerator" Perry says he hopes to get back on his feet soon despite an illness that has him confined to a wheelchair.

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Perry, 45, was stricken with Guillian-Barre syndrome, which the Chicago Tribune described as a potentially life-threatening affliction of the nervous system that causes progressive weakness.

His condition required him to be hospitalized for five months recently, but the jovial 350-pound Perry has since started physical rehabilitation and is feeling better.

"I'm walking a little bit and rehabbing and doing what I'm supposed to," he told the Tribune. "Tell everybody that I'm doing a whole lot better. It just takes time. I hope to be up and about in a walker real soon."

Perry became a national sports folk hero 23 years ago when Bears head coach Mike Ditka had the defensive lineman score a 1-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.