Former Giant Tyler Sash, Who Died In September, Diagnosed With CTE
IOWA CITY, Iowa (CBSNewYork/AP) — Former Giants safety Tyler Sash, who died last year at age 27, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Chris Nowinski of the Boston University-affiliated Concussion Legacy Foundation confirmed the diagnosis Tuesday night. The New York Times was the first to report the finding.
CTE, which can be diagnosed only after death, has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players. Linked to repeated brain trauma, it is associated with symptoms such as memory loss, impaired judgment, depression and, eventually, progressive dementia.
Sash, a former University of Iowa star who went on to win a Super Bowl during his 2011 rookie season with the Giants, was found dead at his home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Sept. 8. The Iowa State Medical Examiner's office found he died from an accidental overdose after mixing two powerful pain medications, and a history of painful injuries was a contributing factor.
Months after the Super Bowl victory, Sash was suspended for four games in 2012 for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy by testing positive for Adderall, a stimulant used primarily to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the sleep disorder narcolepsy. The Giants cut ties with Sash prior to the 2013 opener, reaching an injury settlement after he sustained a concussion in the preseason finale against New England.
Sash was arrested in May 2014 in Oskaloosa after police said he led officers on a four-block chase with a motorized scooter before running into a wooded area. Sash later pleaded guilty to public intoxication and was fined $65.
He played in 23 games with the Giants and had 26 tackles and a forced fumble.
At Iowa, Sash started 37 games from 2007-10, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in his final season. He bypassed his fourth year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
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