Dave Duerson Death Ruled Suicide, Donating Brain For Concussion Research

NEW YORK — The family of former Bears safety Dave Duerson has agreed to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition linked to athletes who have sustained repeated concussions.

Chris Nowinski at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of Medicine told The Associated Press he was contacted by a representative of the NFL Players Association on Friday, then worked with a representative of Duerson's family.

"I can confirm that Mr. Duerson's family has agreed to donate his brain to the CSTE at BU School of Medicine," Nowinski said in an e-mail.

Duerson died Thursday in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. The Miami-Dade medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, Miami-Dade police spokesman Roy Rutland said Sunday. He confirmed that a gun was used but did not specify where Duerson shot himself.

It's unclear why Duerson killed himself, although his company had been forced into receivership several years ago and he had lost his home to foreclosure, former Bears coach Mike Ditka told the AP in a phone interview Sunday.

"I knew he had some problems, I knew he lost the business, I knew all that," said Ditka, whose Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund works to help provide for retired players, which includes funding research into health-related issues such as brain injuries.

"It's just a tragedy," Ditka said. "It really is."

A native of Muncie, Ind., Duerson was a third-round draft pick by the Bears in 1983 out of Notre Dame and played 11 seasons in the NFL. He won Super Bowls with the 1985 Bears and 1990 Giants and played in four Pro Bowls.

Ditka said he isn't sure whether Duerson was having any issues connected with his playing career, but he acknowledged that it has become common among former players.

"A lot of these guys have gone through a lot of suffering," Ditka said. "You played the game, you had a concussion, and you went back in. That's how it was. If they showed you three fingers, and you saw two, it was good enough. You played the game."

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is associated with cognitive and behavioral problems later in life and eventually causes dementia. Also known as punch drunk syndrome, it has been most common in boxers. In recent years, CTE has been shown to exist in other athletes, including professional and college football players and a pro hockey player.

CSTE is a collaboration between BU Medical School and the Sports Legacy Institute that's addressing what it calls the "concussion crisis" in sports. The group has been at the forefront of research into head trauma in sports and received a $1 million gift from the NFL, which it has pushed for better treatment of concussions.

Nowinski, a former pro wrestling star and football player at Harvard, is the president at the Sports Legacy Institute.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said as he arrived for labor negotiations Sunday that he didn't know details about Duerson's case.

"He's a good man," Goodell said. "It's sad."

___

Associated Press writers Rasha Madkour in Miami and Caryn Rousseau in Chicago contributed to this report.

Comments

[ScientistfromtheHood]

11:51 AM on 02/22/2011

Perhaps public funding of violent sports should be reconsidered. Violent sports breeds life long injury and bullying in schools. In Europe, many countries require "pay to play," and sports programs are not part of the school system. I would support that model.

[princessvaly]

05:48 PM on 02/21/2011

I think the family is taking something negative and putting a positive in it. I also think Duerson took a hugely selfish act and made something slightly unselfish come out of it by knowingly "sparing" his brain so it could be used for research. I think it's tragic his life got that way though and I feel sorry for his family. RIP Duerson!! Beardown!

[NostradamnIsuck]

04:04 PM on 02/21/2011

Good on the family for the donation...In your time of grief, I applaud you for contributing to the collective understandings of the mysteries of the brain.

[Nicole Dixson]

01:50 PM on 02/21/2011

Very tragic. RIP.

[Jim Valko]

01:25 PM on 02/21/2011

I love football, but they need to do more to try to cut down on injuries. It's terrible. In boxing and Mixed Martial Arts there are weight classes so men fight guys their own size. In football you can have a 180 lb player going up against a 350 lb player. Should they limit the size of the players? I think so. That wouldn't handle the problem completely, but it would be a step in the right direction.

[Six Gator]

11:23 AM on 02/21/2011

ban contact sports!....simple solution!
Allow he sities to keep the billions spent on stadiums and arena's and send these guys out to the work force!.....alla' sudden head injuries will find a solution both sides can agree on!!

[Das Hirschenhofer 11]

11:03 AM on 02/21/2011

"You played the game, you had a concussion, and you went back in. That's how it was. If they showed you three fingers, and you saw two, it was good enough. You played the game."

That's how I remember playing...I was never pro or even college for that matter...but it's the way we were when I was a young man. Their was a whole lot of "$uck it up" statements going around back in the day;c)

This is truly a sad event, He was a gentle giant, If he donated his brain for study, he knew their was a problem and he wanted to help others avoid the pitfalls associated with this type of injury. I hope his spirit finds peace, Pain can drive folks to edge all to often. I know, I have been fighting degenerative spine disease since the early eighties. I have had back surgery three times, an I am currently looking at one more in the near future. Pain is beyond depression, it effects every aspect of your life and some just simply get tired of it...period. My heart goes out to this great man and his family.

[Six Gator]

11:24 AM on 02/21/2011

they started fining players, and the players complained abour it!....

[Das Hirschenhofer 11]

11:52 AM on 02/21/2011

I had heard about this, and it's wrong in so many ways. Don't they point it out in a movie called "North Dallas forty"? I know it's a comedy...but it raises a good question....are our professional players signing into "Indentured servitude" by signing up with these teams? It's like your signing you life away is is not;c(

[youhavetobekiddingme]

10:58 AM on 02/21/2011

with the knowledge we have today compared to what we had even a decade ago there is no reason other than fear that they will be replaced on the part of the athlete & greed on the part of the teams that athletes are "sent back in"
I am so glad that athletes are coming forward with their stories. Quite a few hockey players (Lindros, Lafontaine to name a few) tell the stories of deep depression about the inability to function within their own lives and families.
It is so sad that this man had to go through what he went through and the people that dismissed this as no big deal should have far more empathy and compassion but perhaps they are not capable.
The biggest difference in todays society is the disconect for some reason empathy & compassion have been demonized.

[kylie523]

10:23 AM on 02/21/2011

how very sad

[Witchitalineman]

09:15 AM on 02/21/2011

I am so sorry for his family's loss.

[Six Gator]

09:06 AM on 02/21/2011

Just make it flag football already, and move on!....and stop saying this is the NFL's fault. If anything, its everyone's fault.

This is a serious problem, but its also a hot button issue. Next up, Bran and gluton-free foods on the buffet tables!...Odd this issue comes out NOW, when there's a contract on the table....and by now, I mean now-ish....the union knew this day was coming too!

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

10:02 AM on 02/21/2011

Odd this issue comes out NOW? What do you think, this guy killed himself as a contractual ploy by the union? Concussions have been a serious issue for years. Only NOW they are getting the attention they should have had years ago because of the numbers of players with permanent brain injuries is rising and medical studies are proving what has long been suspected. And yes, to a certain degree, it is the owners fault. It's a major liability, that the owners were aware of, that they dragged thier feet on, because it increases insurance costs and thus profits. You don't believe me, ask Mike Ditka, he is about nothing but football as anybody and he has been talking about this issue for years.

[Six Gator]

11:14 AM on 02/21/2011

its been a "topic" with great influence, of late....yes, an ongoing issue, but a hot topic of greater interest now.....and no, Columbo, I dont think this man killed himself in servitude of the union. Nice approach though, opn your part!...sheesh!
If the owners are dragging their feet, so is the union...the union can turn this off anytime they want!....but they like people like you assuming this is an owner only issue....The players are making the hits!...the public is loving them, and the owners are allowing it....blame for all..like I outlined!

This game has been played as "tackle" football, longer than current retired players. I did NOT belittle the problem!, but I'm also not using it to increase my revenue!

[Jim Valko]

01:26 PM on 02/21/2011

This issue came out now because he just died.

[abbienormal]

09:00 AM on 02/21/2011

The NYT is reporting that Duerson intentionally shot himself in the chest in order to keep his brain intact for BU researchers. He was well aware of the damage that football had done to his brain.

[Beautiful Day]

08:43 AM on 02/21/2011

That's right NFL, add two more weeks of impact on these guys' bodies over the span of their careers.

[Six Gator]

09:11 AM on 02/21/2011

There are escalating factors that require a look at expansion....ONE such factor is rediculous salaries, and continual demands made by the union and legal teams....and yes, the owners also want to make more money!

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

11:00 AM on 02/21/2011

You should put on the wool, get on all fours and stand in the pasture with the sheep already...The players are not going on strike, they are being locked out, you have it backwards. The owners have the highest profit margin by far in all of professional sports. If they don't play a single game next year they still get 1 billion in TV revenue. The players on the other hand, make less, have the shortest career (average 3 1/2 years) and suffer the worst injuries. Many of the of injuries are permanently disabling. Not all the owners are for this lockout. Dan Rooney of the Steelers has stated publically he is not in favor of it. Basically his attitude is, 'it's not broke so we don't need to fix it' and for an owner, to be on the players side, goes to show how lopsided the current contract is. This talk of a lockout, is only an issue because of Jerry Jones (Cowboys) and Jerry Richardson (Panthers) wanting to bust the union so they can make even more. The "union and it's legal teams" aren't demanding anything, it's a group of conservative owners wanting to take advantage of the fact that the players union is generally weak and will eventually cave to whatever contractual changes the owners want. This is nothing but an extension of what is going on nationwide. Corporate profits are at an all time high, while wages and the standard of living go down.

[tjdestry]

07:28 AM on 02/21/2011

Meanwhile, the owners are pressing to expand the season so we can have even more full-speed collisions each year.

[Six Gator]

09:07 AM on 02/21/2011

are the owners shoving the players into one another?...

[RBB05]

10:35 AM on 02/21/2011

no but the players by generation are becoming stronger, faster and and are encouraged to use whatever means needed to do so....thus the severity of injuries is altering by generations.

[themodernleader]

06:06 AM on 02/21/2011

   As Americans lose self-esteem, self-respect and a national purpose their sports become ever more violent: sadistic and  masochistic.  Violent spectacles replace competence and performance.