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© Oak Park Journal photo of the Chicago Bears
Dan Peters Sports Editor
Oak Park Journal
Former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson died from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner. His death has been ruled a suicide. In the beginning the cause of death was kept quiet, as though to determine the actual cause, but the cause was quite evident given the wound to the chest. Dave Duerson had complained about his mental and emotional state to friends and others. It is felt that since Dave wanted his brain to help others with brain trauma and injury he would not harm the evidence for science. Those who knew Dave had nothing but nice things to say of him. His loss of life is tragic to all who loved him and perhaps his repeated traumas and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE got the better of him. Hopefully more will be done in all sports from hockey, football and others were head injuries are all too common, if those that are slight can add up if repeated. Better helmets are needed for all contact sports where the skull is hit. In a text message to loved ones, Duerson asked that his brain be left for NFL research, emphasizing he wanted the left side checked out in particular. McFlurries and Autographs with former 85' Chicago Bear Safety Dave Duerson in Happier Times..... Press Release: "We are stunned and saddened to hear the tragic news regarding Dave Duerson," the Bears said in a statement. "He was a great contributor to our team and the Chicago community. Today is a difficult day for all of us who loved Dave. We'll miss him. Our prayers are with his family." Duerson left the Bears after the 1989 season and was part of the 1990 New York Giants team that also won a Super Bowl. He played three more seasons for the Cardinals before retiring at age 33. He finished with 20 interceptions in his career. After football, Duerson owned Brooks Sausage Company, later called Fair Oaks Farms, which supplied sausage to fast-food restaurants. He sold the business in 2002. Duerson was born and raised in Muncie, Ind., where he was a standout in football, baseball and basketball. He earned a degree in economics from Notre Dame. Emery Moorehead, a tight end on the '85 team, said: "He was a man's man. Smoked cigars. Just a personable guy. ... He had a lot of people that loved him everywhere." "Our hearts go out to the Duerson family and to all those who knew Dave," Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. "In addition to being a great football player, Dave represented himself and the University in so many other ways as a team captain, as well as through his work with the Monogram Club and the Board of Trustees. You couldn't help but be impressed by him when you met Dave Duerson, and I think that was the reaction from anyone who was ever around him."  Suburban Journals of Chicago Sports Editor Dan Peters, his wife Summer and Dave Duerson. |
