(ReliableNews.org) – Terry Beasley was a legend at Auburn University in Alabama. The Mongomery-born football player was an All-American during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. Sadly, he has now passed away, and his death is being investigated as a possible suicide.
On January 31, police in Moody, Alabama, responded to Beasley’s residence at approximately 5:20 p.m. and found the former football player. According to authorities, Beasley appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Moody Police Chief Reece Smith told the press that the case is being investigated but that the department’s thinking about the Beasley family. The 73-year-old died just six days before his birthday.
Beasley was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School before going on to play college football for the Auburn Tigers. The wide receiver was a lettered player on the team from 1969 to 1971. During his time with the Tigers, he caught 141 catches and scored 29 touchdowns. The star was one of three players to have his number retired and was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1972, Beasley was a first-round draft pick. He went to play for the San Francisco 49ers from 1972 to 1975. He ended up retiring because of injuries.
Beasley suffered repeated head injuries while he played football. According to The Washington Post, he said he suffered at least 52 concussions on the gridiron. Those injuries left him with anxiety, memory loss, sleeplessness, and headaches.
In 1992, doctors admitted him to the hospital and diagnosed him with possible schizophrenia and clinical depression. They were later referred to as misdiagnosis when the medical community learned more about how the impact of repeated concussions could leave someone with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a neurodegenerative disease — and long-term brain trauma.
In 2013, Beasley was hospitalized repeatedly. He joined a class-action lawsuit against the NFL over head injuries players received during their careers. The suit was settled in 2016.
Beasley is survived by his wife, Marlene.
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