NFL star had a great life
that came to a tragic end
David was a two-time All-American safety at Notre Dame. He also took his studies seriously, unlike a lot of college football players then and today.
In fact, he told folks that he was more proud of his economics degree as he was with his selection to the All-American teams.
After Notre Dame, he went pro. He played 11 years in the National Football League, making the Pro Bowl four times and was on the winning side of two Super Bowl championship clubs.
He was named NFL Man of the Year in his fifth season.
After his NFL career ended, he parlayed his economics degree into a successful career in business and went on to post-graduate work at Harvard University.
For several years, David was a member of the of the prestigious Board of Trustees at his alma mater and spent time in the administration of the NFL Players Association, the union for pro football players.
His academic prowess and the name recognition from playing pro football provided David a springboard into business.
Good thing he got that economics degree, right?
Perhaps.
And perhaps it was all window dressing. For, one day it all came tumbling down.
Life on the gridiron finally caught up with David many years after he had been retired from the game.
Over a decade since he suited up last for the Phoenix Cardinals, David’s behavior became erratic. Several of his businesses collapsed.
When former players pleaded for help for financial support, they believed was due to them as former union members, David now used his position within the union hierarchy to pitch battles with his former colleagues and actively tried to prevent them from getting those benefits.
What may have caused this obstinacy on behalf of the former defensive back?
David complained of blurred vision and pain “on the left side of his brain.”
His resulting behavior also led to a divorce from his wife, Alicia, and the estrangement of his four children.
Brain damage?
This was the last text message he sent to his family:
“PLEASE, SEE THAT MY BRAIN IS GIVEN TO THE NFL’S BRAIN BANK.”
The NFL works in concert with a Boston area medical school in conducting research about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) that researchers believe can be caused by playing football.
In February 2011, the 50-year-old David shot himself in the chest at his home in Florida.
Neurologists, after examining his brain, determined that the former Pro Bowler did indeed have CTE.
In 2019, the late Dave Duerson was named one of the top 100 greatest Chicago Bears of all-time.
He came in at number 47.
The lesson? Perhaps there is none.
I don’t know.
Duerson not only had one of the greatest names in football history, he was an unqualified success…until he wasn’t.
Football can be a gladiator’s realm. Tackle football is a rough game, and the glory can come with some downside.
Sic transit gloria mundi—“thus passes the glory of this world.”
Succinctly, “glory is fleeting.”
R.I.P Dave Duerson.
I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that I may have a lot of “useless knowledge” floating around in my head. Perhaps.
I think tales like this have some benefit, however.
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Brian O’Leary