SECOND Former NFL star kills himself after lifetime of depression

‘brought on by concussion during career’ – the SECOND in a year

By Julian Gavaghan PUBLISHED: 05:29 EST, 23 April 2012

• Ray Easterling ‘shot himself’ at home after struggling to cope with dementia
• The 62-year-old former Atlanta Falcons star was suing NFL amid claims it covered up links between football and brain injuries
• He is thought to have developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy – or  ‘punch drunk syndrome‘ after repeated blows to the head during career
• Follows suicides of NFL star Dave Duerson and NHL player Wade Belak

Former football star Ray Easterling has become the latest sportsman to kill himself after suffering from depression believed to have been linked to head injuries during his career.

The 62-year-old, who police say shot himself at his home in Richmond, Virginia, played for the Atlanta Falcons during the 1970s and later sued the NFL over its handling of concussions.

He began showing signs of brain damage 20 years ago with bouts of depression and insomnia.

SECOND Former NFL star kills himself after lifetime of depression