Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest at his home in Oceanside, Calif., on Wednesday morning, and the incident is reviving the conversation about what some doctors see as a growing link among head trauma, mental illness and suicide.
ABC News reports:
If Seau did indeed commit suicide, his death would bear a resemblance to that of other athletes in hard-hitting sports, including Chicago Bears football player Dave Duerson. Duerson shot himself in the chest in February of last year.
Seau played in the NFL for 20 years for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. On Wednesday, Chargers Chaplain Shawn Mitchell told ABCNews.com that Seau died of a "self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest this morning." Seau was 43 and leaves behind three children and an ex-wife, Gina Deboer.
The Chargers relased a statement to ABC News' San Diego affiliate: "Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."
The case may be similar to that of Duerson, who left a note requesting his brain be sent to the "NFL brain bank" for study.
Read more at ABC News.
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