Research shows that Vincent Jackson had stage 2 CTE at the time of his death in February. He was 38 years old.

Jackson, a wide receiver, had a 12 year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers (at the time) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a great player, posting multiple thousand-yard seasons. He was well-liked and a staple in the community as he was a four-time nominee for the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award. He also had zero diagnosed concussions.

After his death, his widow, Lindsey Jackson donated his brain to the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank.

“It had mild frontal lobe atrophy and a split in the internal membrane that could be from the trauma of playing football,” Dr. Ann McKee, the professor of neurology and pathology at Boston University School of Medicine who diagnosed Jackson’s C.T.E., told the New York Times. “There were multiple lesions, mostly in the frontal cortex of his brain.”

Jackson began experiencing symptoms in the last few years of his life, and the symptoms increased during the pandemic. He couldn’t remember conversations, became paranoid and had mood swings. He also said that alcohol was what helped diminish the fuzziness in his brain.

“I think the message is if you played for a long time and you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s very likely that this is what it is,” Lindsey told the New York Times. “I didn’t know that; Vincent didn’t know that. We thought it was just concussions, and we’d love for people to realize it’s more than that.”

Jackson knew about CTE and even spent time watching movies and reading research articles about it. Lindsey believes he knew he had it.

When he could no longer hide his alcoholism from his family, Jackson moved to a hotel nearby where he was eventually found dead.

New details have emerged about former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson, who was found dead earlier this week. The latest information has revealed that Jackson might have died up to three days before being found dead in a Florida hotel room Monday morning. The new details surrounding his death were released the same day his family made the decision to donate his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center.

The current timeline that was provided by the medical examiner’s office indicates that on February 12, the receiver was located by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as part of a welfare check. The next two days after the welfare check, hotel staff entered Jackson’s room and noticed that he was sitting slouched on the couch. The staff assumed that he was sleeping and left the room.

On February 15, hotel staff entered the room of the former NFL player and determined that he had not moved since they last checked upon him. The staff then called 911 at 11:37 a.m. to report the body. The medical examiner’s office’s report indicated that there were no signs of trauma or injury, other than a small laceration on his left big toe.

On Thursday, the examiner’s report was updated to add that there was no medication found on the scene. Under the report “social history,” listed the former NFL player to have had alcohol or smokeless tobacco use but no known drug use. The updated report has not listed the cause or manner of death. Instead, it is currently listed as “pending further study,” meaning that it is still unknown what caused the death of Jackson.

Michelle Van Dyke, a spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, said in an email, “At this time, there is no timeframe for the completion of the autopsy report for Mr. Jackson, though the Medical Examiner anticipates it may take several months.”

Jackson’s family made the decision to donate the brain to Boston University CTE center to learn more about CTE. CTE, which is common among people who played football and boxing, stands for the degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy that can be caused by repeated head trauma.

CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously in a special autopsy that examines specific portions of the brain. Researchers at Boston University have previously found CTE in the brains of former NFL players.

Allison Gorrell, a family spokesperson, told ESPN the reasoning behind donating the family’s decision to donate the brain. “If anything can be learned from his death that might help someone else, Vincent would want that since he was passionate during his life about impacting others around him,” she said.

On Monday, former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead in a Florida hotel room, according to the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office.

Jackson’s body was found at Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Police said there was an open investigation. They also said there were no apparent signs of trauma, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.

The hotel staff confirmed that Jackson checked into the hotel on January 11 and stayed there since that date. Jackson’s family reported him missing last Wednesday, with a formal report filed Thursday. However, the case was canceled after Jackson’s well-being was confirmed.

“My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else.”

“He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country but also the people here in Hillsborough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contributions,” Chronister added.

Jackson was the son of military parents and founded the Jackson In Action 83 Foundation, a nonprofit to support military families.

Jackson played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL. The first seven years of his career were spent with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers said in a statement that Jackson was a, “fan favorite not only for his Pro Bowl play on the field but for the impact he made on the community off of it.”

Jackson last played in the NFL in 2016 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he spent the last five years of his career there.

Buccaneers owner and co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement that Jackson was a “consummate professional,” and even with his accomplishments on the field, “his greatest achievements as a Buccaneer were four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Peyton Man of the Year.”

Over the entirety of his career, Jackson recorded 540 catches for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns. He was selected to three Pro Bowls.