Joe Theismann at age 63 is as persistent today as he was as a freshman quarterback, one of the 13 quarterbacks on Notre Dame’s depth chart nearly 45 years ago. When he talks, he wants your attention.

Theismann, the former leader of the Washington Redskins and now a commentator on the NFL Network, was on the phone pitching a free health screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm at The Woods at Canco in Portland from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For many other former legendary athletes, Wednesday’s call would be a simple public service announcement.

For Theismann, it’s a crusade. His family has a history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a blood-filled bulge that can burst unexpectedly. When it happens, the survival rate is about 10 percent.

“No one should die from Triple-A,” said Theismann. “But we as men, if it’s not falling off our body, we ignore it. The screening is free, it’s not invasive and it only takes about 10 minutes. But you have to register beforehand.”

The telephone number to register is (866) 371-3592.

Theismann won’t be in Portland. He did take a few minutes to ask about Marcus Wasilewski, the University of Maine’s first-year quarterback from Pennsylvania. Theismann coached Wasilewski one-on-one in preparation of an all-star football game three summers ago.