The late Frank Witschke, remembered for the pass that started the famous “Music City Miracle,” suffered from an advanced stage of… Chronic traumatic encephalopathy The researchers said (CTE).
Wycheck died in December 2023 after a fall at his home in Tennessee. He has made it clear that he would like to work with experts in CTE and related brain injury research.
A study of Wijczyk's brain conducted by researchers at Boston University's Center for Chronic Encephalopathy confirmed the first. Tennessee Titans Star Tight End also suffered from degenerative brain disease during the last years of his life.
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Frank Witschke of the Tennessee Titans on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals at Adelphia Stadium in Nashville, December 10, 2000. (Scott Halleran/All Sport)
Wycheck was diagnosed with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Stage 4 is the most severe form of the disease and can lead to dementia, memory loss, and depression. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can occur after repeated head injuries, such as concussions or blows to the head, according to Mayo Clinic.
2017 study A study by Boston University's CTE Center concluded that the brains of 99% of former NFL players contain at least trace amounts of the neurodegenerative disease. Researchers studied the brains of 202 former football players.
Wycheck, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end, played NFL From 1993 to 2003, starting with Washington and ending his career with the Houston Oilers organization, which moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.
The Wychek family said in a statement that they are grateful for the diagnosis, which they believe further highlights concerns about CTE in contact sports such as football. They want to honor his legacy with a stronger commitment to player safety and supporting those affected by head injuries.
His daughters said their family had challenges understanding the physical and mental changes Wychek was experiencing, believing he was missing the spotlight in his career.
Frank Witschke celebrates the Tennessee Titans' victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoff game in Nashville, January 11, 2003. (Simon Prouty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“We witnessed our father becoming increasingly isolated and experiencing severe mood swings. He became more impulsive, often inconsistent and unreliable,” Diana Wijcik-Szabo said in a statement. “Now, in hindsight, I understand that he was suffering from symptoms of CTE due to the repeated traumas to his brain and body over the course of 11 seasons in the NFL.”
Former tight end Frank Wyschke of the Tennessee Titans runs onto the field before the game against the San Diego Chargers at LB Field on September 22, 2013, in Nashville. (Frederick Brydon/Getty Images)
Szabo said Wycheck loved football and his teammates. She said he struggled for years after his retirement to bring attention to the symptoms and struggles he knew stemmed from CTE, often feeling ignored and helpless. Szabo also said she wishes her family had been educated about the symptoms of CTE to know what to look for, and now hopes to increase intervention, education and support for NFL alumni and their families.
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“Instead of believing there was something inherently wrong, we now know he was doing the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control,” Szabo said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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