Former NFL player Demaryius Thomas had stage 2 CTE at the time of his death

New findings state Denver Broncos football player Demaryius Thomas had Stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died in December.

Medical professionals in Boston diagnosed Thomas with Stage 2 CTE. He had a car crash in 2019 that caused medical complications until his death on Dec. 9, 2021, from an apparent seizure. However, the Fulton County Coroner had not ruled on a cause of death.

“CTE itself does not cause death. You don’t die from CTE,” stated Neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee. “What CTE does is it changes your behavior and your personality.”

CTE is a progressive brain condition that’s thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and repeated episodes of concussion.

Thomas was experiencing paranoia and memory loss on some occasions which his mother, Katina Stuckey Smith, stated.

“His mood would change, and he would also isolate himself sometimes,” Smith said. “He was, like, ‘Mom, I don’t know what’s going on with my body. You know, I gotta get myself together,’ and he said, ‘I don’t feel like myself anymore.'”

Thomas was 33 years old at the time of his death. He played in the NFL since being drafted in the first round in 2010.