• March 29, 2024

Dave Duerson Suicide Has Shaken Up Former Players

Last year I did an internet radio show with former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson. He seemed to be in good spirits and was talking about all of the issues surrounding the NFL. One item we talked about was the damage that has been done to so many former players because of concussions they had suffered during their playing careers.

You can imagine the shock that I experienced when I found out last week that Duerson had died, then to find out that he had taken his own life. Furthermore to discover that he had texted his family to have his brain examined before shooting himself in the heart. To say it was alarming, doesn’t come close to registering the shock I experienced.

I had been through this before when my former teammate Andre Waters had shot himself after battling years of depression. When Andre’s brain was examined, they discovered that years of brain trauma from had damaged his brain and led to years of depression and ultimately suicide. This may have been the same reason for Duerson’s demise. Pets, just like humans, can also feel stressed and depressed. If you’re a pet owner and you don’t want that to happen to any of your pets, click here.

He was 50 years old at the time of his death and had played for that great 1985 Chicago Bears defense which was coached by Buddy Ryan and won a Super Bowl title. He was a four-time Pro Bowl safety and also played for a New York Giants team, which won a Super Bowl. He had been vocal for years about the NFL failing to take care of former players, who were experiencing failing health.

I’ve talked to a number of other former players since news of Duerson’s suicide was made public and all of them are shaken up by what happened. A number of them are starting to ask, how many former players have damaged their brains because of playing in the NFL. I know one who is planning on having a MRI scan.

“Oh my God — he might have been aware of what was happening to himself?” former Giants running back Tiki Barber told the New York Times when he heard about Duerson’s suicide and text messages. Barber continued: “It feels like this was calculated and thought-out to some extent. It was almost with a purpose.”

NFL analyst Randy Cross told the Times, “It ought to terrify anyone that’s played the game.”

Concussions weren’t a big deal when we played. You might have had a headache for a while after the game, then once it went away, you went back out there and continued hitting.

You can believe that the NFL takes no pleasure in reading about these stories about Duerson, or Waters, or former Eagles fullback Kevin Turner, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease because of his brain trauma.

I’ve heard that former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon has been suffering from the affect of brain trauma. The list is getting longer and longer. In truth it’s not a shock. Battering your helmet against the helmet of another player can’t be good for your brain.

In the past the NFL had no problem sending a player back in the game, who had just been dazed or completely knocked out in a game. They’ve changed that policy recently but in the past, they had no problem letting players play after they had suffered concussions.

Many of these former players start complaining about having consistent and severe headaches. Those are clear signs that damage has been done to the brain. They also have trouble remembering things. The NFL knows where this is headed. Can you say workmen’s compensation litigation?

This is going to have a major affect upon the NFL, College Football and high school football going forward. How many mothers and fathers are listening to and reading these stories and deciding that their children aren’t going to play football?

GCOBB

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paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 10:45 am

A tragedy indeed for the Duerson Family and close friends..
A Notre Dame graduate as well.. Unfortunately “Collisions’ with each other are part of the game of football, and with Collisions, you have injuries and concussions which are unavoidable.. No Collisions, then no football..

Jason Lamb
February 21, 2011 12:02 pm

This will definitely have an impact on the game long term. As a father I want my boy to pursue his dreams and enjoy sports while also minimizing any long term effects to his health. The uncertainty surrounding concussions gives me pause. Until this is sorted out we may see parents pulling there kids out of youth football. Also, there is no reason why a great athlete MUST play organized football all his life to make an impact when it counts in the latter highschool years then in college. Until some honest answers are sought and presented parents and coaches of young football players wont know how best to deal with concussions and minimize the cumulative effect of playing a violent game your entire life.

paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 12:55 pm

It appears that Soccer will become the #1 Sport in another generation of or so (15-20 Years)

jakedog
jakedog
February 21, 2011 2:02 pm

Paulman, what’s up with the notre dame reference, is it more of a tragedy because he’s from notre dame, who cares he’s from nd

mugzybrown
mugzybrown
February 21, 2011 2:24 pm

Concussions are not the issue.

The brain damage comes from the normal every down play. Repeated collisions over and over, in practice, in games from peewee to the NFL.

Everytime the lines collide, it’s the same as a pretty severe car accident to the brain.

The NFL needs to drastically change how the game is played.

I’m getting to the point that I can no longer support this sport. It’s disgusting what it does to the players.

greenfan
greenfan
February 21, 2011 2:29 pm

GCobb says:
“This is going to have a major affect upon the NFL, College Football and high school football going forward. How many mothers and fathers are listening to and reading these stories and deciding that their children aren’t going to play football?”

As a former player who sustained a number of concussions, but more importantly, as a father of 2 youngs sons currently playing, it does make me think. My 11 year old had his first diagnosed concussion last season….am I putting these kids in danger?

G, you are right…are there long lasting effects of playing ball that we are only now starting to see?

mugzybrown
mugzybrown
February 21, 2011 2:36 pm

greenfan.. yes you’re putting your kids in danger.

The only reason things are just starting to come to light is the NFL has been suppressing these findings for years and years.

paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 2:37 pm

The referenece about Notre Dame is two-fold Jake

#1) A Strong Alumni Following for Classmates and Teammates (in case some of G fans did not know)
#2) As a Notre Dame Graduate, Duerson was just not a Jock only, he was a bright man who was succcesful off the football field too which makes this tragedy even harder to understand..

jakedog
jakedog
February 21, 2011 2:49 pm

ok paulman so it is easier to understand Andre Waters taking his life or the troubles of Mike Webster because Waters was from Cheyney state and Webster was homeless at the time of his death, I get where you are coming from and it is not good

greenfan
greenfan
February 21, 2011 3:21 pm

@mugzy….sure, in a perfect world it is an easy answer. Using that logic, I would also not let my 17 year old get her drivers license.

There are risks in all activities, it is our job as a parent to minimize the risks while letting the kids live and learn without keeping them “in a bubble”.

paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 3:21 pm

That’s your words Jake and not mine..

jakedog
jakedog
February 21, 2011 3:29 pm

no Paul it is an inverted syllogism of your thinking, not my words

mugzybrown
mugzybrown
February 21, 2011 4:02 pm

. You are totally missing the point.

When you drive, yes you can get into an accident and be hurt, but driving itself doesn’t harm you.

If you play baseball, yes you can get hit in the head and get hurt, but playing baseball doesn’t hurt you.

The simple act of playing football can shorten your life by 10-20 years, even if you never sustain a concussion. If you’re on the o-line and 50 times a day in practice and in games you’re slamming into your d-line you’re injuring your brain so that if you take an MRI it’ll look like you have alzheimers.

paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 4:09 pm

To Jake,
Enough with the Plato will you… maybe I can explain it like this…

Major Premise — Eagles have never won a Super Bowl in their history
Minor Premise — Coach AR has never won a Super Bowl as HC
Conclusion — Eagles will not win a Super Bowl

greenfan
greenfan
February 21, 2011 4:23 pm

Mugzy…..I didn’t miss anything.

The point that you think I missed is about putting you children in harms way.

Every physical activity has an effect on your body….runners have knee and foot issues…catchers in baseball have knee and back issues…basketball…the list goes on and on. There are many more head injuries reported in soccer each year than football….where do you draw the line?

YOU appear to have a singlular issue with football. I was responding to G’s statement, and questioning my boys playing. I didn’t miss anything.

greenfan
greenfan
February 21, 2011 4:29 pm

James Urban just left to be Wide Receivers Coach in Cinn.

pheags88
pheags88
February 21, 2011 4:40 pm

Mugzy, what else can the NFL really do? Use flags instead of hitting…They have already changed the rules tremendously since back in the day to protect players. And now when they fine players for a ton of money; players lash out on them and say the game is getting pathetic because they cant hit hard. This is truly a sad story and I cant imagine what it must be like for many ex NFL players right now. But nobody is forced to play in the NFL.

pheags88
pheags88
February 21, 2011 4:41 pm

The players and the NFL both contradict themselves in my opinion. Players want the NFL to do more to protect their well being but then they lash out when the NFL tries to make the games safer by giving out fines because they dont want to pay the money and because they think they are making the game soft to the point where they cant hit. On the other hand, the NFL tries to express to the national media that they look out for players by changing rules and using large fines/suspensions but then want an 18 game schedule. Their real concern is that they dont want the day to come where a player actually dies in the middle of a game. Hmmm..I dunno GCOBB since you actually played you might be able to clarify the perspective of the players but to me this is an issue that will be around as long as football is.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
February 21, 2011 4:59 pm

I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again. The players deserve every dime they can get. Cutting 20-39 years from a person’s life is no small thing.

paulman
paulman
February 21, 2011 5:02 pm

Unless you are Pee Wee Herman or Sara Palin …

E-money
E-money
February 21, 2011 7:52 pm

Another reason why the league should not expand the season to 18 games.

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
February 21, 2011 8:39 pm

E-Money

Very good point!

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
February 21, 2011 8:40 pm

The NFL changed or began to enforce the rules ONLY

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
February 21, 2011 8:43 pm

The NFL changed, or began to enforce, the rules ONLY because they wanted to avoid lawsuits. They knew of these dangers long ago, but until recently, no one had bought suit against them. Just like many fans, no one cared about the health of these players. They were (and still are) viewed as overpaid brats paid to play a child’s game. Nothing could be further from the truth.

mugzybrown
mugzybrown
February 22, 2011 8:07 am

A few things the NFL should consider:

1) Switching to soft padding rather than hard plastic padding. This should stop players from running full-speed into one another.

2) Eliminate the neutral zone. The 2 lines should start the play almost in contact with one another, much like a rugby scrum.

3) Enforce strict tackling rules, above the knees, below the chest.. and you have to try to wrap, not launch your body into a player. .again like rugby.

supabad
supabad
February 22, 2011 2:01 pm

AND THIS STUPID OWNER ROGER GOODELL AND THESE IDIOT OWNERS WANT A 18 GAME SCHEDULE. NOW YOU TELL ME HOW SMART IS THAT.