Junior Seau is without a doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His career spanned twenty years — such longevity is almost unheard of in today’s game. He was a beloved figure, tough-as-nails, and like many with his dedication, injury was not a reason to stay off the field.
In 2012, Junior Seau pointed a shotgun at his chest and blew it open, choosing to die slowly and agonizingly presumably so his brain remained intact for study. A study of Seau’s brain found he, like many other players who made their careers on the gridiron, suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
On Aug. 8, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct Seau, forever immortalizing him among the greatest to ever play the game. Controversy has arisen recently, however. The Hall doesn’t want Seau’s daughter, Sydney, to take the podium and talk about her father. Instead, the Hall will play a video highlighting Seau’s dedication and contribution to the game of professional football.
Some believe this is a political decision the Hall has made to separate the very real and horrifying brain injury discussion from the festivities, claiming that the Hall has made this decision specifically because of the firestorm Seau’s suicide and brain injury revelation generated. The Hall, however, has stated that the decision to not allow Syndey Seau an opportunity to take the podium is the way the Hall has handled the inductions of deceased players since 2010.
The Hall is correct in their assertion. There is no malicious intent to silence the conversation about brain injury and professional football. Even if the Hall had the intention, they would be unable to keep public concern over football-related brain injury silent.
Obviously, since we’re talking about it right now.
In a statement by Pro Football Hall of Fame President and Executive Director David Baker, the Hall clarifies that they are not “barring” the Seau family from discussing their patriarch at the podium. From Pro Football Hall of Fame:
“Reports published Friday incorrectly stated that the Hall of Fame was ‘not allowing’ or ‘barring’ the Seau family from speaking at the Enshrinement on Saturday, Aug. 8. Nothing could be further from the truth, which is why I write this letter.
“The stories erroneously imply that a change in our policy regarding individuals enshrined posthumously was made solely for the case of Junior Seau when, in fact, it has been the Hall of Fame’s policy since 2010. This is not a precedent setting circumstance. It is existing policy, which is six years old and was first implemented in 2011 when Los Angeles Rams great Les Richter was enshrined posthumously.
For clarification, only Hall of Famers speak at the podium during the Enshrinement. Presenters speak through dramatic videos that celebrate the enshrinees’ Hall of Fame careers.”
The festivities on Aug. 8 aren’t about CTE, the frequency of brain injury in pro football, Junior Seau’s suicide, or anything like that. A week from Saturday is about Seau’s legacy as one of the greatest talents to ever play his position and one of the finest men to ever suit up in an NFL locker room. Seau’s contributions to football are forever written in the history books and his philanthropic endeavors placed him in a class all his own.
In a league that has, for decades, had an image issue, Junior Seau was a beacon on a darkening sea.
This isn’t to say, however, that the concern over brain injury in football should be a conversation swept away, even though that has appeared to be the NFL’s position on the matter since the mid-1990s. As a fan of the sport — albeit a conflicted one — the topic of brain injury and CTE is of utmost importance, for an acknowledgement of the issue and a plan to combat the issue head-on may have long-reaching ramifications not just in football, but in professional sports as a whole.
Junior Seau’s brain will play a part in that.
But, let’s reserve Aug. 8 as a day to remember Junior Seau. Not as a casualty of a health crisis, but as #55.
