Frank Wycheck, the NFL wide receiver best known for throwing a lateral pass that set the stage for the “Music City Miracle” and propelled the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance, was suffering from a grade III encephalopathy when he died Dec. 9, 2023, at his residence in Chattanooga, his family announced Thursday.
Wycheck died at the age of 52 after apparently hitting his head in a fall at his home. He had previously signaled his intentions to work with the Encephalopathy Specialists (ETC) to further research into head injuries.
Researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center confirmed that Wycheck suffered from grade III CTE, with stage IV being the most serious form of this neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, losses memory loss and depression.
Wycheck participated in three career Pro Bowls and played in the NFL from 1993 to 2003. He began his career with the Washington Redskins, before finishing it with the Houston Oilers, who then moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.
Wycheck’s relatives said in a statement that they are relieved to learn of the diagnosis, which will renew concerns associated with CTE in contact sports, such as American football. They would like to honor him by becoming more involved in player safety and supporting those affected by head injuries.
His daughters said their family had difficulty understanding the physical and psychological challenges Wycheck faced, mistakenly believing he had difficulty coping with the fame that accompanied his athletic career.
“We watched our father become more and more withdrawn and experience sudden mood swings. He became more impulsive, his behavior became erratic and unusual, Deanna Wycheck Szabo said in a statement. Looking back, I realize that he suffered from CTE symptoms due to the repeated trauma to his head and body that he endured during his 11 seasons in the NFL.
-“Rather than believing that he was responsible for his problems, we now know that he was doing the best he could as a father and friend due to circumstances that were beyond his control,” Szabo said.
Madison Wycheck Nowell said she worried every day about her father after he retired, whether he was eating, drinking enough water and going to appointments. She said her family saw her health deteriorate rapidly, and hopes this story will serve as a lesson for others.
“My father explained to me that he felt like his brain was walled off behind a brick wall that prevented him from completing his tasks, no matter what it was or who it involved,” Nowell said via radio. of press release. No matter the symptoms of CTE, I still believe God intervened to allow him to enjoy our marriages, his grandchildren, and all the other things he really wanted to be a part of before leaving us. »
The “Music City Miracle” celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday. On this sequence, Wycheck threw a lateral pass to Kevin Dyson who set up a touchdown on a kickoff return and allowed the Titans to come from behind to defeat the Buffalo Bills in a game playoff between teams drafted from the American Association.
This punt return for a touchdown ranks as the fourth greatest moment in the first 100 years of NFL history.
