Junior Seau was one of the best linebackers in the history of the NFL. His ability and his longevity were something that amazed his peers in the sport. He played for 20 seasons, which is an achievement in itself because the average NFL player is out of the league within three years.
His statistics and accomplishments speak for themselves.
Seau had 545 tackles, 56.5 career sacks and 18 interceptions. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time First Team All-Pro selection, a two-time Second Team All-Pro selection, the 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and he was named to the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team.
Seau retired after the 2009 season and he was more than worthy of being a first ballot hall of famer.
People were going to flock to see Seau speak at his induction ceremony, and this is the same guy who made a memorable speech after his first retirement after the 2005 season saying he that he didn’t retire, but rather he “graduated.”
He would go on to play four more seasons, but in 2012 everything changed.
Fans of the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots — the three teams Seau played for — wouldn’t go and hear Seau make speak at Canton.
On May 2, Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest.
His suicide sent shockwaves through the NFL family and it affected those who played with him.
I remember watching ESPN in 2012, shortly after Seau’s death, and seeing his former Charger teammate Marcellus Wiley overcome with emotion when speaking about Seau.
Wiley recalled of how he talked with Seau in 2010 after Seau drove his SUV off of a cliff. Wiley would ask Seau if it was a suicide attempt and he responded by saying that he just fell asleep behind the wheel before the crash.
That crash might’ve been a sign that something was troubling Seau. And after his suicide his family donated his brain to the National Institute of Health to try and see if they could find out what was haunting Seau. The NIH released a statement in January 2013 saying that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a disease in the brain that occurs when there are repeated hits to the head, and 20 years of constantly hitting opposing running backs and quarterbacks took a toll on Seau.
Fast-forward to January 2015.
Seau was selected as a member of the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Even though he wouldn’t be there in person to speak, his family — more specifically his daughter, Sydney — would speak on Seau’s behalf.
But then on July 24, the Pro Football Hall of Fame said that Seau’s family wouldn’t be able to speak during his induction.
The committee might be afraid of Sydney saying something negative about the NFL and the ongoing lawsuit on concussions since Seau is a part of it.
But Sydney has said that she doesn’t plan on mentioning anything about CTE in her speech. She just wants to honor her father for what he accomplished on the gridiron, not what transpired off the field.
What’s been the committee’s response?
They cite a policy that was first implemented in 2011 when former Los Angeles Rams player Les Richter had no one speak on his behalf when he was enshrined because he had died a year earlier. The policy eliminates speeches by those on behalf of deceased players and instead a video is presented.
It’s a policy that’s a complete joke and needs to be changed. It was Seau’s wish to have Sydney introduce him before giving his speech in Canton, Ohio.
Instead the committee will be doing a five-minute video tribute to Seau, compared to the standard three-minute tribute.
Though Seau isn't going to be there, the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee has until Aug. 8 to do the right thing.
Let Sydney speak and have Seau’s voice heard.
Luisa Seau, right, the mother of former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, wipes her eyes during a ceremony on Sept. 16, 2012, to retire Seau's No. 55 uniform before the Chargers play the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game in San Diego.
