Field Level Media
10 Feb 2026, 21:25 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Dale Guldan / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Tracy Scroggins, who spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions, died Monday. He was 56.
The Lions announced the passing of the former defensive end but did not provide a cause of death.
His family issued a statement to TMZ, however, that blamed football, saying they believed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. That can be diagnosed only after death.
Scroggins was among the thousands of former players to sue the NFL over concussion-related symptoms. The case was settled in 2015.
'Playing in the NFL gave Tracy the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream and to rise from poverty,' the family statement read. 'However, unfortunately, the NFL was also ultimately the cause of his untimely demise. Tracy spent every moment of retirement courageously battling the devastating effects of CTE. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.'
Scroggins appeared in 142 games (89 starts) with the Lions from 1992-2001. The team selected the Oklahoman in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft out of Tulsa.
He retired with 60.5 sacks, 321 tackles (23 for loss), eight forced fumbles and seven recoveries, and an interception.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Dale Guldan / USA TODAY NETWORK) Tracy Scroggins, who spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions,...
(Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) Trade-deadline acquisition James Harden came through in the clutch during his first two games...
(Photo credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images) Surging toward the All-Star break, the San Antonio Spurs will begin a back-to-back scenario...
(Photo credit: H. Darr Beiser / USA TODAY NETWORK) Fifty years after he coached the last undefeated men's Division I basketball team,...
(Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) Cade Cunningham led everyone with 33 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the visiting...
(Photo credit: Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Flory Bidunga scored 23 points and grabbed...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A former innovation unit of the U.S. government's foreign aid agency has resurfaced as an independent nonprofit,...
SEOUL: A routine promotional campaign at South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb spiralled into chaos after a technical error...
NEW YORK, New York - Technology stocks extended Friday's gains on Monday, pushed higher by shares in AI companies such as Nvidia and...
ANTERSELVA, Italy: As the world's attention turns to the Winter Games, the north Italian valley of Antholz-Anterselva is bracing for...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: As Republicans head toward a high-stakes midterm election year, Donald Trump has positioned himself as the party's...
WASHINGTON, D.C./NEW DELHI: In two moves expected to significantly shape U.S.–India relations, President Donald Trump scrapped the...
