Junior Seau, a homegrown superstar who was fist-pumping, emotional leader of the San Diego Chargers for 13 years, was found shot to death at his home Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be suicide. He was 43rd
Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and rescue efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found they did not immediately know who the gun was registered.
Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and rescue efforts were unsuccessful. A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found they did not immediately know who the gun was registered.
Death Seau of Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, he represented a stunning area with almost reckless abandon. The same intensity that won star linebacker throw the fight in his first exhibition game helped carry the Chargers their only Super Bowl after 1994 season. A fierce tackler, he would jump up, pump up the fist and kick out his leg after dropping a ball carrier or quarterback.
"It is a sad thing. It is hard to understand," said Bobby Beat Hard, as chargers manager took Seau out of Southern California with the fifth pick overall in the 1990 draft. "He was really just a great guy. If you drew up a player that you love to have the opportunity to draft and the team and as a teammate, Junior and Rodney (Harrison), they'll be the kind of guys you want . "
Quarterback Stan Humphries remember that Seau did everything at the same speed, whether it was exercising, lifting weights or harass John Elway.
"Stress is a smile, that infectious attitude, it exceeded all the other guys," said Humphries, who was shocked that Seau is now the eighth player from the '94 Super Bowl team to die.
Seau's mother appeared before reporters outside the house of a former player, weeping uncontrollably.
"I do not understand ... I'm shocked," Luisa Seau cried.
Her son did not indicate a problem when she talked on the phone earlier this week, she said.
"He's kidding me, he called me a 'home girl," she said.
Seau's death included suicide last year by former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson, who also shot in the chest.
In October 2010, Seau live in a 100-foot plunge down a cliff coast in their jeeps, hours after he was arrested for investigation of domestic violence in Oceanside home he shared with his girlfriend. The woman had told authorities that Seau assaulted her argument.
There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs involved in the crash and Seau told authorities he fell asleep while driving. He sustained minor injuries.
"I just can not imagine this, because I've never seen Junior-down mentality," Beat Hard said. "He was always so optimistic and he wanted to keep people up. He practiced the way he played. He made practice fun. He was a coach's dream. He was very nice and well as a player and person. It's hard to believe."
Seau's ex-wife, Gina, said the Union-Tribune San Diego that he texted her and each of three separate their messages: "I love you."
Seau, who played in the NFL for some 20 seasons, is the eighth member of San Diego in the lone Super Bowl team who have died, all under the 45th Lew Bush, are Shawn Lee, David Griggs, Rodney Culver, Doug Miller, Curtis Whitley and Chris Mims others. Causes of death range from heart attacks in a plane crash with the lightning strike.
S Seau is also among several recent, unexpected death of NFL veterans.
Duerson family has filed a wrongful death suit against the NFL, said the department has not done enough to prevent or treat concussions that severely damaged brain Duerson before he died in February 2011.
Former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Eastman, who had concussion related lawsuit against the league - one of dozens submitted last year - died last month aged 62nd His wife has said that he suffered from depression and dementia, taking years of hits.
Seau is not known to have been a plaintiff in litigation concussion.
However, his ex-wife told The Associated Press that Seau sustained concussions during his career.
"Of course he had. He always bounced back and continued to play," she said. "He's a warrior. That did not stop him. I do not know what football players do not. It's not ballet. It is part of the game."
Gina Seau said she did not know whether the effects of concussions contributed to the death of Seau's.
"We have no evidence whatsoever. We are as stunned and shocked as anyone else. We are terribly sad. We will miss him and we will always love him."
When Humphries joined the Chargers in the 1992 trade, he said it was obvious Seau was "the one who had the most power, the most excited, the guy who tried to rally everyone." Humphries said Seau "came out a lot of young ness" of the older players.
He also helped the younger players.
"So sad to hear about Jr. Seau," tweeted New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who was with San Diego from 2001-05. "Junebug. Buddy. Greatest teammate a young guy could ask for. This is a sad day. He will be missed greatly."
Seau called many of those around him "Buddy." He can often teammates as "my players."
Seau was selected to the Chargers-record 12 straight pro bowls and was all Pro six times.
"We all lost a friend today," Chargers president Dean Spanos said in a statement. "It's just so sad. One of the worst things I could ever imagine."
The greatest game Seau could have been a 17-13 victory over Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game in January 1995 that sent the Chargers to Super Bowl. Playing through the pain of the pinched nerve in his neck, he spread out his 16 tackles from the first game to the next to last. San Diego was moved to 49-26 in the Super Bowl from San Francisco.
Humphries also remember Seau recovered fumble Elway completing the come-from-behind victory in the 1994 opener at Denver.
Seau Chargers left after 2002 season when the team unceremoniously told him he was free to do business. He held a farewell letter press conference at the restaurant he owned in Mission Valley, and later was traded to Miami.
Seau retired several times, first in August 2006, when he said, "I'm not sleeping. I graduate."
Four days later, he signed with New England Patriots. He was with the Patriots when they lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl after the 2007 season that ended New England's quest for a perfect season.
Last fall, finally retired for good, Seau was inducted into the San Diego chargers Hall of Fame.
Last season was his 2009.
"Twenty years, being part of this kind of fraternity, being able to go out and play the game you love, and all classes and friends and acquaintances you meet along the way, you may not be in a better level," Seau said in August.
The Patriots issued a statement expressing sadness over the death of Seau's. "It's a sad day for the whole Patriots organization, our coaches and many of his Patriots teammates," the statement said.
More than 100 people gathered outside the home Seau, only hours after he was dead. Families came with flowers and fans wearing chargers Jersey waited for news.
A few hours after Seau was found, his body was loaded van medical examiner and taken away as fans snapped pictures and raised his hands in the air like a prayer.
Family friend Priscilla Sanga said about 50 friends and family gathered in the garage where the body lay on the gurney Seau and they had a chance to say goodbye.
"Everyone got to see Junior before they took him away," Sanga said. "He seemed so peaceful and cool. It was disbelief. We touched up and kissed him."
