Police: Junior Seau found dead at California home

Former NFL linebacker great Junior Seau smiles during his induction into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony of a game in San Diego. Police say Seau, a former NFL star, was found dead at his home in Oceanside, Calif., Wednesday morning.
Former NFL linebacker great Junior Seau smiles during his induction into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony of a game in San Diego. Police say Seau, a former NFL star, was found dead at his home in Oceanside, Calif., Wednesday morning.

— Junior Seau, regarded as one of the NFL’s best linebackers over a 20-year career with the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, died of a gunshot wound to the chest Wednesday at his home in Oceanside, Calif., the Chargers said. He was 43.

The police said his death was being investigated as a suicide.

A native of Oceanside, Seau starred at the University of Southern California before being selected fifth overall in the 1990 NFL draft by the Chargers, who played 40 miles south of his hometown. A 12-time Pro Bowler, Seau played 13 seasons with the Chargers and was one of the team’s most popular players. In the 1994 season, he led the team to the Super Bowl, where the Chargers lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 13-6. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selected him for the 1990s All-Decade Team.

“Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now,” the Chargers said in a statement. “We ask everyone to stop what they’re doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family.”

Seau was traded to the Dolphins in 2003 and after three injury-plagued seasons was released. He signed a one-day contract with the Chargers in August 2006 to announce his retirement. But four days later, he signed with the Patriots and was a member of the 2007 team that went undefeated in the regular season, losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. His last season in the NFL was 2009.

He is survived by three teenage children: a daughter, Sydney, and sons Jake and Hunter.

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