Tennessee Titans legend Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died in a fall at age 52

Tennessee Titans legend Frank Wycheck had CTE when he died in 2023 at age 52, his family shared in a statement Tuesday, Jan. 7.

His family said Wycheck was suffering from stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death at the age of 52 on December 9, 2023, 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 soccer players, can cause symptoms such as memory loss, depression, aggression and motor neuron disease, according to Mayo Clinic. CTE can only be diagnosed after death during an autopsy of the brain, according to 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, Tennessean reported.

“My dad put his body on the line throughout his career,” Szabo said. “He loved the game and loved his teammates even more. After retirement, he fought for years to bring light to his post-NFL journey and the fears he had surrounding his struggles and symptoms he knew wholeheartedly were CTE.”

She continued and added: “He often felt forgotten and ignored and that his situation was helpless. Reflecting back, I wish our family had been educated about the signs and symptoms of CTE. Instead of thinking there was something inherently wrong with him, we now know he did the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control.”

Szabo also said she hopes her father’s death brings more awareness to CTE, especially as it relates to the NFL and former athletes.

“We hope that future NFL alumni and families will explicitly get an outline and action plan to receive 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, Tennessee in December 2023. His family confirmed the news via a statement on t.the team’s official website.

“At this time, it appears that Wycheck fell inside his home in Chattanooga, TN and hit his head on Saturday morning. He was found unresponsive that afternoon,” the statement read.

The former tight end played 11 seasons in the NFL before officially retiring in 2003.