Vincent Jackson.Photo: Don Juan Moore/Getty Images
Vincent Jackson, a 12-year veteran of the NFL who was found dead in his hotel room on Feb. 15, may have suffered from alcoholism and a concussion-linked brain disease, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office told PEOPLE on Wednesday.
The body of 38-year-old Jackson was discovered Monday at the Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida. The popular wide receiver played for the San Diego Chargers, then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before his retirement in 2018.
“It could be several weeks before we know what led to the untimely and tragic death of Vincent Jackson,” the department said. “The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office continues to conduct a thorough investigation alongside the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.”
In a statement provided to PEOPLE, the Hillsborough Medical Examiner said “that there is no autopsy report at this time, and it will likely be several months before one is complete.”
Cliff McBride/Getty Images
While not all football players develop CTE, it is prevalent in the league — in a 2017 study of thebrains of 111 deceased NFL players, a Boston University researcher found 110 of them had the disease.
“[The family believes] wholeheartedly that all of these actions are a result of what he suffered from while he played in the NFL,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister toldQ105on Wednesday, admitting the subject was still speculation at this point.
CTE can cause symptoms of depression, impulsive behavior, short-term memory loss and emotional instability, according to theMayo Clinic.
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In Florida, Jackson was beloved for his compassion and community outreach, Sheriff Chronister told Q105.
While he did not serve in the military, Jackson’s parents were both members of the U.S. Army, he toldSporting Newslast year. This tie to the military was something he kept close to his heart and was one of the reasons he startedJacksonInAction83, a foundation to help military families and their children.
source: people.com
