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Junior Seau’s Family Not to Speak at Hall of Fame Induction
Rolf B. Gainer, PhD
Junior Seau is being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, his family has been prohibited from speaking at his induction. As football fans know, Junior Seau committed suicide in 2012 by shooting himself in the chest to preserve his brain much like Dave Duerson, another football player who struggled with the aftermath of multiple concussions and later was found to have CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Like Duerson, Junior Seau was also found to have CTE when his family donated his brain for study. He suffered from depression and mood changes after his retirement and may have attempted to take his life via an auto accident prior to his suicide.
Seau played for the San Diego Charges (1990-2002), the Miami Dolphins (2003-2005) and the New England Patriots (2006-2009). A highly recognized linebacker, Seau was known for his passionate playing style, giving each game all he had. Posthumously inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2015, many regard the blocking of his family from speaking as a NFL tactic to avoid further publicity on the connection between concussions and CTE. Maybe the NFL wants to control what’s said about former players who have histories of multiple concussions and were proven to have CTE, NeuroNotes has and will continue to devote stories to the effects of concussions and CTE.
