Tom McHale (American football)

Thomas McHale (February 25, 1963 – May 25, 2008) was an American football player. He played professionally as an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1992), Philadelphia Eagles (1993–1994) and Miami Dolphins (1995). Born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, he attended Gaithersburg High School and then Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania, before playing college football at Maryland (1983) and Cornell (1986), graduating from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Playing as a defensive end, he was named all-Ivy League and first-team All-American in 1986, and was runner-up for Ivy League Player of the Year. He was named to the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

Tom McHale
No. 73, 99
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1963-02-25)February 25, 1963
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:May 25, 2008(2008-05-25) (aged 45)
Wesley Chapel, Florida, U.S.
Career information
High school:Gaithersburg
(Gaithersburg, Maryland)
College:Maryland, Cornell
Undrafted:1987
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:87
Games started:23
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Death

On the morning of May 25, 2008, McHale was found dead at age 45 at the home of a friend in Wesley Chapel, Florida.[1] The cause of death was recorded as an accidental drug overdose.[2]

An examination of McHale's brain at Boston University's School of Medicine found that McHale had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),[3] a condition found in several other NFL veterans who had received repeated hits to the head, some of which may have caused concussions.[4] He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease.[5] His widow, Lisa McHale, now works as a family relations liaison at the Boston University CTE Center.[6]

References
  1. "Authorities: Former Buccaneers player found dead". ESPN.com. 25 May 2008.
  2. Another Ex-Player Dies Young With Brain Damage Yahoo Sports, January 27, 2009
  3. Schwarz, Alan (January 28, 2009). "A Sixth N.F.L. Player's Brain Is Found to Have Degenerative Disease". New York Times.
  4. Smith, Stephanie (January 26, 2009). "Dead athletes' brains show damage from concussions - CNN.com". CNN.
  5. "Researchers Find CTE in 345 of 376 Former NFL Players Studied". Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  6. "The Frontline Interview: Lisa McHale – League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis - FRONTLINE". PBS. May 21, 2013.
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