Former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau didn't suffer any reported concussions during his career, but his ex-wife told the Associated Press that Seau indeed suffered some.
"Of course he had [concussions]. He always bounced back and kept on playing," Gina Seau said. "He's a warrior. That didn't stop him. I don't know what football player hasn't. It's not ballet. It's part
of the game."
It would be naive to think Seau didn't suffer many unreported concussions while playing. Getting players and teams to report concussions more is one key way to preventing their long-term damaage. In comments to SI.com, Seau said he supported aggressive player safety measures.
"It has to happen," Seau said. "Those who are saying the game is changing for the worse, well, they don't have a father who can't remember his name because of the game."
Gina Seau said she didn't know if the effects of concussions had in any way contributed to Seau's death. With that in mind, we recommend reading Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports' column Thursday, which focused on how much we don't know about Seau's death.
Yesterday was a rough day for football. There is an instinct to want answers and make proclamations on what it all means right away, and we are guilty of doing that as well.
The autopsy on Seau is expected to be released on Thursday, and that should provide more answers about the manner of his death. In the meantime, Seau's family and his extended football family mourn.
Seau's death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego County medical examiner's office on Thursday.