The family of former Tennessee Titans player Frank Wycheck has made a startling revelation about the player one year after his death. Wycheck died due to a head injury he sustained in a fall at his Chattanooga, Tennessee home in December 2023. His two daughters have broken silence about their father's death and stated that he suffered CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (degenerative brain disease), which can only be diagnosed posthumously.
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Frank Wycheck Faced Degenerative Brain Disease
His family worked with the researchers at Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to diagnose him with a neurodegenerative disease. The disease can cause dementia, memory loss and depression in those who have suffered repetitive brain trauma. Wycheck had Stage III CTE at the time of his death. Stage IV is the most severe form of the disease.
"After my father’s retirement from professional football, our family faced challenges in understanding the physical and mental changes he was experiencing," Deanna Wycheck said in a statement.
"We initially believed it was simply an inability to adjust to ‘normal’ life after the intensity of being a professional athlete. We witnessed our father becoming increasingly isolated and experiencing drastic mood swings. He became more impulsive, and often inconsistent and undependable.
"At the time, I mistakenly attributed his struggles to missing the spotlight and camaraderie of his playing days.
"But now in hindsight, I understand that he was suffering from the symptoms of CTE due to the repeated trauma his brain and body endured over 11 seasons in the NFL."
Wycheck featured in 11 seasons of the NFL, which included nine standout years with the Titans. He generated 505 catches, 5126 yards and 28 touchdowns during his career.
Wycheck's effort on the play helped the Titans secure a 22-16 wild-card win over the Buffalo Bills, which helped them fetch a place in Super Bowl 34.
Wycheck is survived by two daughters, Deanna Wycheck Szabo and Madison Wycheck Nowell.