28 Facts About Dave Duerson

David Russell Duerson was an American professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League for 11 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears.

Dave Duerson played for the New York Giants and Phoenix Cardinals, winning Super Bowl XXV with the former.

At age 50, Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Neurologists at Boston University confirmed that Dave Duerson had CTE as a result of the concussions he had during his playing career.

Dave Duerson played college football at the University of Notre Dame from 1979 to 1982, and graduated with honors, with a BA in economics.

Dave Duerson started all four years for the Fighting Irish, and earned recognition as an All-American in 1981 and 1982.

Dave Duerson was a captain and the team's MVP as a senior in 1982, intercepting seven passes and returning them for 104 yards.

Dave Duerson finished his college career with 12 interceptions, which he returned for 256 yards and a touchdown.

Dave Duerson returned 103 punts for 869 yards and 3 kickoffs for 75.

Dave Duerson was the winner of the Edward "Moose" Krause Distinguished Service Award in 1990 by the Notre Dame Monogram Club, of which he was a past president.

Dave Duerson was a member of the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005.

Dave Duerson won two Super Bowl championship rings, with the 1985 Bears, and 1990 Giants.

Dave Duerson intercepted six passes for 139 yards with a longest return of 38 yards.

At season's end, Dave Duerson 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.

In 1987, Dave Duerson was the recipient of the NFL Man of the Year Award.

Dave Duerson recovered five fumbles, returning them for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Dave Duerson owned three McDonald's restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky for six months, from late 1994 to April 1995.

Dave Duerson purchased the majority interest in Fair Oaks Farms in 1995.

Dave Duerson sold his stake in the company in 2002 and started Duerson Foods, but that company was forced into receivership in 2006 and most of its assets were auctioned off.

Dave Duerson was found dead at his Sunny Isles Beach, Florida home on February 17,2011.

The Miami-Dade County medical examiner reported that Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Dave Duerson sent a text message to his family saying he wanted his brain to be used for research at the Boston University School of Medicine, which is conducting research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease, which can be caused by playing football.

Dave Duerson left behind three sons and a daughter from his marriage to ex-wife Alicia.

Dave Duerson was buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Notre Dame, Indiana.

On May 2,2011, neurologists at Boston University confirmed that Dave Duerson had CTE, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.

Dave Duerson was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease.

Dave Duerson was portrayed by actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in the 2015 film Concussion.

Dave Duerson was mentioned in the HBO series Ballers in reference to CTE with character Ricky Jerret.