Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher’s Brain Shows Signs of CTE

In a league that has taken a beating as of late, regarding domestic violence, the day of December 1^st 2012 will live in NFL infamy. A truly tragic situation took place that day. Domestic violence in its worst form took place, the perpetrator and the victim did not live to tell the tale.

Jovan Belcher, 25, a linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs, shot and killed his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, 22 (whom he shared a daughter with) in what was reported as a jealous rage after she returned from a Trey Songz concert. He shot his girlfriend nine times, in front of his own mother. Belcher then drove to the Kansas City Chiefs facility and shot and killed himself in front of Head Coach Romeo Crennel, General Manager Scott Pioli, and Linebackers Coach Gary Gibbs.

In a postmortem examination of Jovan Belcher, he was exhumed and tests were conducted on his brain. It was discovered that his brain was probably suffering from a neurological condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE.

CTE is also noted to have been seen in players who have sustained concussions, sometimes multiple concussions over the course of their careers.  CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem.

CTE has been most commonly found in professional athletes participating in American Football , Ice Hockey, Professional Wrestling and other contact sports who have experienced repetitive brain trauma. Individuals with CTE may show symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression, which generally appear years or many decades after the trauma.

Signs of CTE have also been noted in other NFL players, whose brains were studied after their deaths. CTE has been found in players who have acted erratically before their deaths. Retired All Pro Linebacker Junior Seau tragically took his own life in May of 2012 and his brain showed signs of the progressive degenerative disease.

Belcher left behind a four month old daughter Zoey Belcher at the time of the shooting. The examination was requested by the attorney for Zoey Belcher to be used in litigation against the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hopefully, from these studies the NFL can find a way to keep their players safe and prevent long term injuries after a players career comes to an end.