NFL: Boston University Seeking To Study Junior Seau’s Brain

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Although Junior Seau was never listed on an NFL injury report as having had a concussion, those close to him say he admitted to having experienced multiple head injuries.

Seau died of gunshot wound to the chest Wednesday, and his death is being investigated as a suicide. No conclusive medical connection has been made between head injuries and suicide, but Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy has asked to study Seau’s brain, Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday.

The center studied the brain of former NFL playerDave Duerson, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest last year and asked that his brain be studied. BU concluded that he suffered from degenerative disease of the brain from repeated head trauma, which can lead to depression.

When reached by ESPN.com, Gina Digravio, manager of media relations at Boston University Medical Center, said that the center never discusses what brains they are studying or what brains they are interested in studying.

Gina Seau said her ex-husband did sustain concussions during his nearly 20-year NFL career.

“Of course he had. He always bounced back and kept on playing,” she said in a phone interview. “He’s a warrior. That didn’t stop him. I don’t know what football player hasn’t. It’s not ballet. It’s part of the game.”

Gina Seau said she didn’t know if the effects of concussions contributed to Seau’s death.

“We have no clues whatsoever. We’re as stunned and shocked as anyone else. We’re horribly saddened. We miss him and we’ll always love him,” she said.

Taylor Twellman, a former soccer star in MLS, was a neighbor of Seau’s in Oceanside, Calif. He said Thursday that he told Seau one time that he had suffered a concussion playing soccer and was experiencing bad headaches. Twellman said that Seau admitted that he also suffered from headaches from multiple concussions playing football.

Twellman, who has become an advocate for athletes with brain trauma, said he later tried to reach out to Seau to tell him he should seek help, but Seau never responded.

Police say they did not find a suicide note at the scene of Seau’s death, and it is not clear if he indicated that he wanted his brain to be studied.

–ESPN