A Florida sheriff has apparently revealed that former NFL star wide receiver Vincent Jackson was dealing with "chronic alcoholism" before his recent death.
An autopsy scheduled to be released on Wednesday indicated Jackson had "long-standing health conditions that contributed to his passing because of some alcohol abuse," Sheriff Chad Chronister of the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office said during a radio appearance, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
"We got the autopsy report that will be released today showed, unfortunately, he suffered from chronic alcoholism," Chronister told Q105 in Tampa. "Just tragic."
Jackson, 38, was found dead on Monday morning by a housekeeper in the Tampa-area hotel room he'd been living in since January, according to media reports.
The former Chargers and Bucs standout rose from relative obscurity in the college ranks, where he starred for Northern Colorado of the Big Sky Conference, all the way to three Pro Bowl nods as a pro.
Officials were waiting on a toxicology reports before issuing an official cause of death, Chronister said.
Jackson's sudden death sent shockwaves through the football community, the sad end for a man who was by all accounts beloved by his fellow players and lauded off the field for his generosity.
Jackson's family has suggested that CTE, the traumatic brain injury, is to blame for his tragic passing, according to Chronister.
"This is true speculation, but what the family is telling me is that he suffered from CTE," the lawman said. "They believe he had a lot of concussion problems and when you suffer from that, you're not yourself."
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