Former NFL Player Tyler Sash Died Of Overdose, Autopsy Reports

An autopsy report has been released for former NFL player Tyler Sash, who was found dead in his Oskaloosa, Iowa, home this in September. In the report, examiners concluded that Sash had died of an accidental overdose of mixing the painkillers methadone and hydrocodone, which are legal drugs but are addictive at the same time. Further tests are being done to see if Sash was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain trauma that has been found in other NFL players as well.

Sash, 27, who was a prolific safety in both college and in the NFL, had first suffered a shoulder dislocation from an accident that happened at his home which led to him to taking the painkillers for the injury. Police who were investigating suspected there was no foul play involved at the time of death.

Sash played for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes where he was fourth on the all-time Big Ten interception yards list and given first team All-Big-Ten honors in his final season. He would go on to play in the NFL with the New York Giants where he helped the team win the 2012 Super Bowl in his rookie year. After testing positive for Adderall and being suspended from football for four games, he was cut by the Giants in 2013 and was later arrested in May 2014 for public intoxication.