Junior Seau

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Seau played college football for the USC Trojans, earning All-American honors and winning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. He was selected fifth overall in the 1990 NFL draft by the Chargers, where he spent his first 13 seasons. During his San Diego tenure, he received 12 consecutive Pro Bowl and six first-team All-Pro selections. Seau also helped lead the Chargers to their first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXIX in the 1994 season. After being traded from the Chargers, Seau was a member of the Miami Dolphins for three seasons. He played his last four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he was a member of the 2007 team that won all 16 regular season games and appeared in Super Bowl XLII. Three years after his retirement, Seau committed suicide in 2012. He was later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He was posthumously inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

In Their Own Story

On August 14, 2006, Seau held an emotional press conference to announce his retirement, calling it his "graduation" because he was moving on to the next phase of life. Just four days later, he returned to football by signing with the New England Patriots. He started 10 of the first 11 games for the Patriots, recording 69 tackles before breaking his right arm against the Chicago Bears and landing on injured reserve. He re-signed in May 2007, becoming one of the team's seven captains in September. Seau was a prominent contributor to the Patriots' perfect 16–0 regular season, starting four games and both playoff contests before Super Bowl XLII, where New England lost to the New York Giants. The emotional weight of his career continued into 2008 when he re-signed after late-season injuries hit the team. On December 22, 2008, a fan was arrested for tackling Seau on the sideline during a game against the Arizona Cardinals; Seau stated he did not feel threatened, believing the fan was just happy and excited. He signed his fourth one-year deal in October 2009, playing seven games as a reserve with 14 tackles before permanently retiring on January 13, 2010, via Inside the NFL.

Reader's Guide

Seau was born on January 19, 1969, in San Diego, California, the fifth child of Tiaina Seau Sr. and Luisa Mauga Seau of Aunu'u, American Samoa. He attended Oceanside High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. He played college football at USC, sitting out his freshman season due to a 690 SAT score. He entered the NFL draft after his junior season and was chosen fifth overall in 1990 by the San Diego Chargers. He played 13 seasons for the Chargers, then three for the Miami Dolphins, and four for the New England Patriots. He announced his retirement permanently on January 13, 2010.

Did You Know?

• Seau did not learn to speak English until he was seven years old.
• He was named the Avocado League offensive MVP as a senior in high school.
• Seau recorded 16 tackles in the 1994 AFC Championship Game while playing with a pinched nerve in his neck.
• He was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death.