Shane Dronett was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons between 1992 and 2002.
20 Facts About Shane Dronett
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Shane Dronett took his own life in 2009, an outcome that may have been related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy that resulted from his football career.
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Shane Dronett was born in Orange, Texas, and graduated from Bridge City High School in Bridge City, Texas in 1989.
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Shane Dronett attended the University of Texas at Austin on a football scholarship.
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Shane Dronett made the All-Southwest Conference team in 1990 and in 1991 he was a semi-finalist for the Lombardi Award.
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Shane Dronett was a 3rd team All-American in 1990 and was a 1st Team All-American in 1991.
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Shane Dronett remained with the Broncos for four seasons, playing all 16 games in his first year.
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Shane Dronett played defensive end during his first three seasons.
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Shane Dronett became a free agent at the end of the 1994 season and re-signed with the Broncos, and played defensive tackle for the 1995 season.
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Shane Dronett became a free agent at the end of the 1995 season and signed a 2-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
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Shane Dronett returned to playing defensive tackle and played a significant role in the Falcons' defense which ranked second in the NFL against the run, allowing only 75.2 rushing yards per game, and produced 313 tackles, 29.5 sacks, and 13 forced fumbles.
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In January 2000, Shane Dronett signed a five-year contract worth 20 million.
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Shane Dronett suffered several other injuries, including knee and shoulder problems, over the next two seasons that limited his ability to play.
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Shane Dronett was released by the Falcons after the 2002 season.
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Shane Dronett was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor in 2007.
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Shane Dronett confronted his wife with a gun on January 21,2009.
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Shane Dronett's death was ruled a suicide by the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's office.
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Scientists determined that Shane Dronett suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease associated with repeated head trauma.
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Shane Dronett was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease.
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Shane Dronett left a wife, Chris, and two daughters, Berkley and Hayley.