Throughout his 20-year Hall-of-Fame career, Seau was known as a "buddy" to everyone. A great stand up guy who was celebrated as much for his exemplary character as he was for his big defensive plays. That Seau, the lovable guy, doesn't jive with some of his post-career behavior, which ended unfortunately with his untimely death. The San Diego County medical examiner's office confirmed the cause of death as suicide. No notes were found.
Seau's death will undoubtedly send discussions on the NFL's biggest problem–post career effects of concussions–into overdrive. The NFL is currently being sued by a number of former players who say that numerous concussions and injuries over the cause of their careers have resulted in permanent brain damage, depression, irreparable physical injuries and suicidal tendencies. This, while New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and Jonathan Vilma, the team's defensive captain, were suspended for a year for their roles in the infamous bounty program aimed at taking out significant players on opposing teams.
Seau wasn't involved in the lawsuit, nor was he publicly diagnosed with clinical depression. In fact, a few people who met with the 20-year vet in the days before his death say he appeared cheerful and happy. Hall Of-Famer Jerry Rice played golf with Seau on Monday and said he appeared upbeat. Video footage taken of Seau at a USC practice showed him happy and clowning in front of the camera. Basically, there was no reason to think Seau would ever commit suicide.
With the exception of a few odd incidents in late 2010, Seau's professional and personal life seemed to be without blemish. But those incidents, now put in context, are telling. In October 2010, just hours after he was arrested for a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, Seau drove his SUV off a cliff, plunging 100 feet. Incredibly, he survived with only minor injuries, and told authorities he had fallen asleep on the wheel. No drugs or alcohol were found in his system.
In light of his death, it makes one wonder if the plunge had actually been an accident caused by a sleeping Seau, or something more. Was it a sign of a troubled life hidden beneath the jokes and smiles? Was it a cry for help? That Seau shot himself in the chest a year after former Chicago Bears Dave Duerson died by a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the same area, suggests that like Duerson, he wanted his brain preserved for testing to show a correlation between repeated concussions and depression among players. Seau's family has agreed to donate his brain for research.
It could be months before any tests can determine if Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE,) a neurological disorder caused by repeated head trauma, which has been found in the brains of several deceased NFL players. But if it is, he would become the highest profile NFL athlete linked to the disorder, giving even more cause for concern about safety in the sport.
The NFL has a serious problem that needs to be addressed before there are many more casualties. Players like future HOF inductee Kurt Warner are stating their reluctance to let their children participate in football. The league makes way too much money from players subjecting their bodies to the worst treatment on the field. It's time to show these players that the league cares as much about their post-career well being by dedicating unlimited resources to resolving this problem.
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