Former Detroit Lions star Tracy Scroggins has died. He was 56.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Tracy Scroggins,” the late NFL player’s family told TMZ in a statement on Monday, February 9. “Tracy was a devoted father, cherished family member, and loyal friend whose life was marked by remarkable strength and perseverance.”
Scroggins’ family noted how much he loved playing football — he was a linebacker and defensive end in the NFL for a decade — but pointed to the physicality of the sport as a possible factor in his early death.
“Playing in the NFL gave Tracy the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream and to rise from poverty,” the statement continued. “However, unfortunately, the NFL was also ultimately the cause of his untimely demise.”
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The family explained: “Tracy spent every moment of retirement courageously battling the devastating effects of CTE. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.”
According to his loved ones, Scroggins suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease “likely caused by repeated head injuries,” per the Mayo Clinic.
CTE causes degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and gets worse over time, but can only be diagnosed after death via an autopsy. (Scroggins’ family has not publicly shared whether they will have an autopsy performed on Scroggins’ brain.)
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The Mayo Clinic notes that CTE has been found in contact sports such as football and boxing and can also occur in military vets “exposed to explosive blasts.”
Symptoms are thought to develop “years to decades after head trauma occurs,” and can include trouble with “thinking and emotions,” decline in motor skills and an uptick in impulsive behavior, per the non-profit healthcare organization.
Prior to his death, Scroggins made a name for himself as a football player. The Oklahoma native attended Coffeyville Community College before transferring to the University of Tulsa and playing for the Golden Hurricane.
Scroggins was selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He played his entire career with the franchise, retiring after 10 years following the end of the 2001 season.
The Lions mourned the loss of Scroggins via a social media statement on Monday, sharing a photo of the former athlete during his tenure with the organization.
“We join the NFL community in mourning the loss of Lions Legend Tracy Scroggins, who played his entire 10-year career in Detroit (1992-2001),” the team wrote via X.
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Scroggins’ family, meanwhile, reminded fans that the late player’s legacy is more than what he did on the field.
“While many knew him for his career as a professional football player in the NFL, those closest to him knew him as a kind-hearted and generous man who cared deeply for his family and friends,” his inner circle said in the Monday statement.
The family added that funeral services will be held in Scroggins’ hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, on Friday, February 27.
“Thank you for all the outpouring of support, prayers and condolences during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
