Researchers confirm ‘Music City Miracle’ star Frank Wycheck had CTE

Frank Wycheck, NFL tight end best known for throwing the lateral that started the “Music City Miracle” and launched Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s one Super Bowl appearance, had stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died on December 9, 2023at his home in Chattanooga, his family said Thursday.

Wycheck died aged 52 after apparently hitting his head in a fall at home. He had made clear his wishes to work with experts on CTE research and ongoing brain damage.

Researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center confirmed that Wycheck had CTE stage III, with stage IV being the most severe form of the neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression. The three-time Pro Bowl tight end played in the NFL between 1993 and 2003, starting with Washington and finishing his career with the Houston Oilers organization, which moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.

Wycheck’s family said in a statement that they are grateful for this diagnosis, which they believe further highlights the concerns surrounding CTE in contact sports like football. They want to honor his legacy with a stronger commitment to player safety and support for those affected by head injuries. His daughters said their family had challenges understanding both the physical and mental changes Wycheck experienced and believed he was just missing the spotlight of his career.

“We noticed that our father became more and more isolated and experienced drastic mood swings. He became more impulsive and often inconsistent and unreliable,” Deanna Wycheck Szabo said in a statement. 11 seasons in the NFL.”

Szabo said Wycheck loved football and his teammates. She said he struggled for years after retiring to bring attention to the symptoms and struggles he knew stemmed from CTE, and too often felt ignored and helpless. Szabo said she wishes her family had been educated about CTE symptoms to know what to look for and now hopes for increased intervention, education and support for NFL alumni and their families.

“Instead of thinking there was something 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 said.

Madison Wycheck Nowell said she worried daily about her father as he retired, whether he was eating, drinking enough water or keeping his appointments. She said they saw his health rapidly decline and hope this is a cautionary tale.

“My father explained that it felt like his brain had a thick brick wall inside that stopped his will to follow through on anything, no matter what it was or who was involved,” Nowell said in his statement. “Regardless of his CTE symptoms, I will always believe that God intervened to allow him to enjoy our weddings, his grandchildren and all the other things he really wanted to be a part of before he left us.”

Wednesday was the 25th anniversary Music City Miracle, a lateral from Wycheck to Kevin Dyson that led to a touchdown on the kickoff return and rallied the Titans over Buffalo in an AFC wild-card game.

This TD return ranked fourth among the NFL’s best plays during the league’s first 100 years.

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