TMZ: Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead, Apparent Suicide

The scene outside of Junior Seau's house in San Diego
(via @AdamHousley)

Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was found dead this morning of an apparent suicide, according to TMZ.com. Seau's body was found at his home in San Diego, where he spent 13 of his 20 NFL seasons.

Seau played for the Chargers, Patriots
and Dolphins in his 20-year NFL career. 

According to Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, Seau was found dead by his girlfriend with a gunshot wound to the chest.

UT-San Diego reports that a 911 call regarding a suicide was made around 10 a.m. PT.

Seau becomes the eighth member of Chargers 1994 Super Bowl team to pass away. All were under the age of 45 when the passed.

In October 2010, Seau was arrested for domestic violence.

Hours after being released from jail in 2010, Seau drove his Cadillac Escalade off of a cliff in Carlsbad, Calif.

Seau insisted he wasn't trying to kill himself and that he had simply fallen asleep at the wheel.

The NFL has faced widespread criticism about it's handling of concussions and Seau's suicide isn't going to help.

Seau's vehicle after the former NFL star drove
off a cliff in 2010. 

If reports are true that Seau did in fact shoot himself in the chest, he may have done it to preserve his brain, just as former Bear Dave Duerson did when he committed suicide in February 2011.

Studies on Duerson's brain ultimately proved that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease linked to reported head trauma.

The NFL is currently being sued by dozens of former players who allege that the league, other than the last three or four years, has looked the other way on concussions. Seau's death may only bolster the case that the former players have against the NFL in what could turn out to be a multi-billion dollar lawsuit.

According to NFLConcussionLititgation.com, as of April 24, 62 players are involved in the lawsuit against the league.

The suit was changed from a personal injury case to a wrongful death lawsuit following the suicide of former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling. Easterling died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 19, 2012.