Dave Duerson

Chicago Bears safety, four-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, and posthumous CTE diagnosis.

David Russell Duerson (November 28, 1960 – February 17, 2011) was an American professional football safety who played in the NFL for 11 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was selected by the Bears in the third round of the 1983 NFL draft.

Last updated 2026-10-21 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Number: 22, 26
Position: Safety
Born: 28 November 1960
Birthplace: Muncie, Indiana, U.S.
Died: 17 February 2011
Place of death: Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, U.S.
High school: Muncie Northside
College: Notre Dame

Facts from the source article.

Background

During his seven seasons with the Bears, Duerson received four consecutive Pro Bowl and two consecutive second-team All-Pro selections. He was a member of the 1985 team that won Super Bowl XX. He later spent one season with the New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XXV, and his final three with the Phoenix Cardinals. In 1986, he set an NFL record for most sacks in a season by a defensive back with seven, and was named first-team All-Pro by Pro Football Weekly, the Pro Football Writers Association and The Sporting News, and second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.

He was the 1987 NFL Man of the Year. After football, he owned three McDonald's restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky for six months, purchased majority interest in Fair Oaks Farms in 1995, sold it in 2002, started Duerson Foods (forced into receivership in 2006), and died by suicide in 2011. He was posthumously diagnosed with CTE.

College career

Duerson played college football at the University of Notre Dame from 1979 to 1982, starting all four years for the Fighting Irish. He earned All-American recognition in 1981 and 1982. As a senior, he served as captain and was named team MVP, intercepting seven passes for 104 return yards. Over his college career, he totaled 12 interceptions, returning them for 256 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 103 punts for 869 yards and three kickoffs for 75 yards. Duerson graduated with honors, earning a BA in economics. In 1990, he received the Edward "Moose" Krause Distinguished Service Award from the Notre Dame Monogram Club, where he served as past president. He was also a member of the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005.