Yahoo Sports Tennessee Titans Legend Frank Wycheck Had CTE When He Died in a Fall at Age 52, Family Says
"He fought for years to bring light to his post-NFL journey and the fears he had around his struggles and symptoms that he knew whole-heartedly was CTE,” his daughter said
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Frank WycheckTennessee Titans legend Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died in 2023 at age 52, his family shared in a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
His family said that Wycheck suffered from Stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death at age 52 on Dec. 9, 2023, The Tennessean reported.
Researchers at the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center at Boston University studied Wycheck's brain after his death to determine the diagnosis, his family said.
The neurodegenerative disease, seen in many football players, can cause symptoms such as memory loss, depression, aggression and motor neuron disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. CTE can only be diagnosed after death during an autopsy of the brain, per the medical organization.
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Following the announcement of his condition, Wycheck’s daughters, Deanna Wycheck Szabo and Madison Wycheck Nowell, issued a statement on behalf of the Wycheck family, The Tennessean reported.
“My father put his body on the line throughout his career,” Szabo said. “He loved the game and even more so loved his teammates. After retirement, he fought for years to bring light to his post-NFL journey and the fears he had around his struggles and symptoms that he knew whole-heartedly was CTE.”
Related: Former NFL Pro Frank Wycheck Dead at 52
She continued, adding “He often felt forgotten and ignored, and that his situation was helpless. Reflecting back, I wish our family had been educated on the signs and symptoms of CTE. Instead of believing that something was inherently wrong with him, we now know he was doing the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control.”
Szabo also said that she hopes her father’s death brings further awareness to CTE, specifically as it relates to the NFL and former athletes.
Related: Former NFL Player Vincent Jackson Had Stage 2 CTE at Time of Death, Wife Says
“We hope future NFL alumni and families will be explicitly given an outline and plan of action in receiving care and treatment. That’s what our father would have wanted,” she said.
Wycheck died after falling and hitting his head at his home in Chattanooga, Tenn. in Decemeber 2023. His family confirmed the news via statement on the team's official website.
“At this time, it appears Wycheck fell inside his Chattanooga, TN home and hit his head on Saturday morning. He was found unresponsive that afternoon,” the statement read.
The former tight end played for 11 seasons in the NFL before officially retiring in 2003.
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