Former Cowboys player diagnosed with Stage 1 CTE after death

A former Dallas Cowboys defensive end was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, ESPN reported on July 7, 2026. The player died by suicide in November 2025 at age 24. Boston University's CTE Center made the diagnosis after his family donated his brain for research.

Family statement His family, including his girlfriend, released a statement Tuesday. "While this diagnosis does not change the tragedy of his passing, it provides important context about some of the struggles he may have been facing," the statement read.

The family added that they shared the information to help people understand what NFL and other high-contact sport athletes might be struggling with.

Prior mental health concerns Records obtained by ESPN show concerns about the player's mental health dating back to 2020 when he was at Western Michigan. In one incident, he was required to turn in his firearm to police until cleared by a counselor.

In another incident, a friend called authorities with concern over his well-being. He was found on railroad tracks, saying he hoped a train would run him over. Texas police found the player's body in the early morning of Nov. 6, 2025, after he evaded officers during a traffic pursuit, crashed his car and fled on foot.

A report released Friday by the Texas Department of Public Safety stated a trooper saw the car speeding, sometimes traveling more than 145 mph.

CTE Center comments Dr.

Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, said she was not surprised by the diagnosis. "We have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we've studied who have died before the age of 30," she said. The center stated that suicide is complex and multifactorial and that a post-mortem CTE diagnosis should not be considered the cause of a suicide.