Junior Seau obit

Talented former NFL linebacker Junior Seau died today. Too young to be on the list. Sad day for fans and family

Former NFL great Junior Seau dead in apparent suicide

Former NFL great Junior Seau was found dead Wednesday in his home outside San Diego from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.

A gun was found near him, McCoy said. Police said no suicide note was found and they didn't immediately know who the gun was registered to.

"We believe it was a suicide," said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata. "There is no indication of foul play."

Seau's mother appeared before reporters, weeping uncontrollably.

"I don't understand ... I'm shocked," Luisa Seau cried out.

Her son gave no indication of a problem when she spoke to him by phone earlier this week, she said.

"He's joking to me, he called me a 'homegirl,"' she said.

Seau had reportedly sent text messages reading, "I love you," to his ex-wife and three children on Tuesday, according to TMZ.

Chargers President Dean Spanos told the San Diego Union-Tribune he was in shock after learning of Seau's death.

"It makes you feel very sad," Spanos said. "He's brought so much to this community over the years. A good person, a good friend. He was the fabric — really a part of this community.

"He was the heart and soul of our team for so many years. Even after he left, his roots and his home were still here. Just people loved him and admired him. It's obviously shocking."

The 10-time All-Pro linebacker — who played the bulk of his storied, 20-year professional career for his hometown San Diego Chargers — had a troubled retirement, driving his Cadillac Escalade off a 30-foot coastal bluff in Carlsbad in 2010 after being arrested for attacking a woman. He later said he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

Seau left USC after his junior year and was the fifth player chosen in the 1990 draft. He played 13 years for the Chargers before joining the Miami Dolphins and ending his illustrious career with the New England Patriots.

"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now," the team said in a statement. "We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."

"Junior was a fierce competitor whose passion and work ethic lifted his teammates to greater heights. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious and he passed that on to everyone who was around him. He loved the game so much, and no one played with more sheer joy," Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said in a statement.

Fellow NFL great John Elway tweeted, "Junior was a true competitor and a special player. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Seau family."

Seau is the eighth member of the Chargers' 1994 Super Bowl team to have died. In December, linebacker Lew Bush suffered a heart attack at age 42. Other members of the team who have died are running back Rodney Culver, linebackers Dave Griggs and Doug Miller, defensive tackle Shawn Lee, defensive end Chris Mims and center Curtis Whitley.

More than 100 people gathered outside of Seau's home, only hours after he was found dead. Families showed up with flowers and fans wearing Chargers jerseys waited to get more news.

Seau was beloved in San Diego, where he created a foundation and had a popular restaurant that bore his name.

 

Notable teammates, coaches, club owners and managers include: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Kevin Faulk, Corey Dillon,  Troy Brown, Benjamin Watson, Matt Light, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Asante Samuel, Josh Miller, Stephen Gostkowski, Vince Wilfork, Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Scott Pioli, Dan Koppen, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Logan Mankins, Pepper Johnson, Rosevelt Colvin, Donté Stallworth, Laurence Maroney, Kyle Brady, Jabar Gaffney, Jerod Mayo, Matthew Slater, Dom Capers, Jonathan Kraft, Logan Mankins, Brandon Meriweather, Bobby Beathard, Dan Henning, Charlie Joiner, Gunther Cunningham, John Friesz, Billy Joe Tolliver, Tim Spencer, Gill Byrd, Nate Lewis, Courtney Hall, Anthony Miller, Marion Butts, John Kidd, John Carney, Mike Zandofsky, Billy Ray Smith, Leslie O'Neal, Gary Plummer, Vencie Glenn, Yancey Thigpen, Ronnie Harmon, Bobby Ross, Bill Arnsparger, Dean Spanos, Stan Humphries,  Bob Gagliano, Brian Brennan, Eric Bieniemy, Natrone Means, Darren Carrington, John Fox, Shawn Jefferson, Trent Green, Terry Crews, Stan Brock, Gale Gilbert, Tony Martin, Alfred Pupunu, Bryan Wagner, Darren Bennett, Shaun Gayle, Darrien Gordon, Leonard Russell, Sylvester Croom, Sean Salisbury, Kevin Ross, Eric Metcalf, Harry Swayne, Kevin Gilbride, Gary Brown, William Fuller, Marco Coleman, Jim Everett, Raleigh McKenzie, Greg Davis, June Jones, Freddie Jones, Charlie Jones, Ryan Leaf, Joe Bugel, Webster Slaughter, Mike Riley, Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Graham, Erik Kramer, Curtis Conway, Ben Coleman, Neil Smith, John Butler, Marcellus Wiley, Ryan McNeil, Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson, Norv Turner, Doug Flutie, Glyn Milburn, Jamal Williams, Steve Christie, Vaughn Parker, Sam Rogers, Donnie Edwards, Marty Schottenheimer, Quentin Jammer, Stephen Alexander, Bill , Arnsparger, James Lofton, Tim Dwight, A. J. Smith, Dave Wannstedt, Adewale Ogunleye, Zach Thomas, Patrick Surtain, Brock Marion, Wayne Huizeng, Brian Griese, Wade Smith,Charlie Rogers, Jay Fiedler, Ricky Williams, Jason Taylor, Sam Madison, Terrell Buckley, Sammy Knight, Matt Turk, Olindo Mare, Jim Bates, Bernie Parmalee, Marty Booker, Donald Lee, Sammy Morris, A. J. Feeley, Chris Chambers, Gus Frerotte, Keith Traylor and Vonnie Holliday.