Tennessee Titans legend Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died in the fall at the age of 52

Tennessee Titans legend Frank Wycheck died in 2023 at the age of 52 from CTE, his family announced in a statement released on Tuesday, January 7.

His family said Wycheck suffered from stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death at the age of 52 on December 9, 2023. Tennessean reported.

Scientists at the Center for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University examined Wycheck’s brain after his death to determine the diagnosis, his family said.

According to scientists, the neurodegenerative disease that affects many football players can cause symptoms such as memory loss, depression, aggression and motor neuron disease. Mayo Clinic. According to the medical organization, CTE can only be diagnosed after death during a brain autopsy.

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Following the announcement of his condition, Wycheck’s daughters, Deanna Wycheck Szabo and Madison Wycheck Nowell, released a statement on behalf of the Wycheck family: Tennessean reported.

“My father put his body on the line his entire career,” Szabo said. “He loved the game and he loved his teammates even more. After retiring, he fought for years to shed light on his NFL journey and the concerns he had surrounding his struggles and symptoms that he knew wholeheartedly were CTE.

She continued, adding: “He often felt forgotten and ignored, and his situation was helpless. When I look back, I wish our family had been informed about the signs and symptoms of CTE. Instead of believing that there was something inherently wrong with him, we now know that he was doing the best he could as a father and friend in circumstances beyond his control.”

Szabo also said she hopes her father’s death will raise awareness of CTE, especially regarding the NFL and former athletes.

“We hope that future NFL graduates and their families will receive a clear outline and action plan for their care and treatment. This is what our father would have wanted,” she said.

Wycheck died later falling and hitting your head at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee in December 2023. His family confirmed the news in a statement posted on tofficial website of the band.

“At this time, it appears that Wycheck fell into his home in Chattanooga, TN and hit his head on Saturday morning. He was found unconscious that afternoon,” the statement read.

The former NFL player played for 11 seasons before officially retiring in 2003.