National Football League

Former NFL safety Sash diagnosed with CTE

Published Jan. 26, 2016 8:49 p.m. ET

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Former NFL and Iowa safety Tyler Sash, who died last year at age 27, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Chris Nowinski of the Boston University-affiliated Concussion Legacy Foundation confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday night. The New York Times was the first to report the finding.

CTE, which can be diagnosed only after death, has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players. Linked to repeated brain trauma, it is associated with symptoms such as memory loss, impaired judgment, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia.

Sash, who won a Super Bowl during his rookie season with the New York Giants after the 2011 season, was found dead at his Iowa home on Sept. 8. A medical examiner determined that he died from an accidental overdose after mixing two powerful pain medications, and a history of painful injuries was a contributing factor.