San Diego, CA

The question of whether NFL star linebacker Junior Seau's brain suffered damage playing football will soon be answered.

This after the San Diego County medical examiner released brain tissue from the deceased NFL star to the National Institutes of Health for study to determine whether his brain sustained damage from his football career.

"We have no information about the type of study that will be done," medical examiner's spokeswoman Sarah Gordon said.

Seau, 43, died May 2 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He was found by his live-in girlfriend in their Oceanside home. He did not leave a suicide note.

Seau's family allowed the player's brain to be studied to help other individuals down the road.

Seau's death was similar to that of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest last year.

In a suicide note, Duerson had asked his family to donate his brain to the Boston University School of Medicine. Later, it was determined Duerson suffered from a neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions, and that played a role in triggering his depression.

Seau was taken as the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, where he starred for 13 years before he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

He played for three years for the Miami Dolphins before playing his final four years in the NFL with the New England Patriots. He was a 10-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Seau retired from pro football in 2010 and he was later inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and the team retired his number 55.

In his career, Seau racked up 1,849 tackles and 56.5 sacks in 268 games.

 

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