Late NFL Legend Frank Wycheck Had CTE, Family Announces

The family of late NFL tight end Frank Wycheck confirmed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death 13 months ago, per ESPN.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to repeated blows to the head. Wycheck died in December 2023 at the age of 52 after an apparent fall inside his home.

Wycheck's family said a study of his brain was conducted at Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, which concluded that Wycheck had CTE Stage III, one stage below the most severe diagnosis.

"Our family is grateful to learn of his confirmed CTE diagnosis in hopes to continue our father's desire to bring awareness, increased intervention, education, and support for NFL alumni and their families related to CTE," Wycheck's daughter, Deanna Wycheck Szabo, said in a statement. "Our hope is that NFL alumni, who believe they are suffering from CTE, will be given the much-needed resources and guidance prior to their symptoms reaching a debilitating state. With on-going CTE research and diagnosis', we hope future NFL alumni and families will be explicitly given an outline and plan of action in receiving care and treatment."

Wycheck played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1993 to 2003, beginning his career with Washington before spending nine years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. He earned three straight Pro Bowl selections from 1998 to 2000. He was a part of the "Music City Miracle," which is one of the most famous plays in NFL history.

At the time of his retirement, Wycheck finished third in Titans franchise history with 482 career receptions. He started working as a color commentator on the Titans Radio Network in 2005 and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2008. The team announced prior to the 2017 preseason that he was stepping down from his commentating role due to lingering head issues.

"My father put his body on the line throughout his career," Wycheck Szabo said. "He loved the game and even more so loved his teammates. After retirement, he fought for years to bring light to his post-NFL journey and the fears he had around his struggles and symptoms that he knew wholeheartedly was CTE. He often felt forgotten and ignored, and that his situation was helpless.

"Reflecting back, I wish our family had been educated on the signs and symptoms of CTE. Instead of believing that something was inherently wrong with him, we now know he was doing the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control."