Junior Seau facts for kids
Seau with the Patriots in December 2008
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| No. 55 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | January 19, 1969 Oceanside, California |
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| Died: | May 2, 2012 (aged 43) Oceanside, California |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Oceanside (Oceanside, California) |
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| College: | USC | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Tiaina Baul Seau Jr. (born January 19, 1969 – died May 2, 2012), known as Junior Seau, was a famous linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was known for playing with lots of energy and passion.
Junior Seau was chosen for the All-Pro team 10 times and the Pro Bowl 12 times. He was also named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. After he passed away, he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Seau grew up in Oceanside, California. He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC). The San Diego Chargers picked him as the fifth player in the 1990 NFL Draft.
He played for the Chargers for 13 seasons and helped them reach Super Bowl XXIX. Later, he played for the Miami Dolphins for three years and the New England Patriots for four years. After he retired, the Chargers put him in their Chargers Hall of Fame and retired his jersey number 55.
Junior Seau died when he was 43 years old. Later, scientists found that he had a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition is caused by repeated head injuries and can affect the brain.
Contents
Junior Seau's Early Life and School Years
Junior Seau was born in Oceanside, California. His family moved to American Samoa for a few years before coming back to San Diego. Junior did not learn to speak English until he was seven years old. He and his three brothers slept in the family's one-car garage.
Seau went to Oceanside High School in Oceanside. He was a talented athlete in football, basketball, and track and field.
High School Football Star
In football, Seau played as a linebacker and tight end. In his senior year, he was named the best offensive player in his league. He led his team, the Oceanside Pirates, to win the San Diego 2A championship. Parade magazine even chose him for their high school All-American team.
Other Sports and Academics
Junior Seau was also a great basketball player. In his senior year, he was named the California Interscholastic Federation San Diego Section Player of the Year. He helped his team win a tournament and place third in another.
In track and field, he was the champion in the shot put. Seau was also a good student, earning a 3.6 grade-point average. He was named to California's all-academic team.
After high school, Seau went to the University of Southern California (USC). He had to wait a year before playing football because his test score was just below the school's requirement. He played for USC in 1988 and 1989, becoming a first-team All-American player in 1989.
Life Beyond Football
Junior Seau was involved in more than just football. He had a restaurant called Seau's The Restaurant, which opened in 1996. He also had his own clothing line called Say Ow Gear. His restaurant closed shortly after his death in 2012.
He also had a TV show called Sports Jobs with Junior Seau. It showed him trying out different jobs that help sports work behind the scenes. The show aired in 2009 and 2010.
Seau cared about his community. He worked on projects with his Samoan "sister city" in San Diego County.
Junior Seau Foundation
In 1992, Seau started the Junior Seau Foundation. Its goal was to help young people. The foundation supported programs for preventing child abuse, teaching about drug and alcohol awareness, and offering fun activities. It also worked to prevent youth crime and provide educational programs.
The foundation held an annual golf event to raise money. It also gives out an award each year to someone who shows the same spirit as the foundation's mission.
Junior Seau's Family Life
Junior Seau had a son named Tyler in 1989 with his high school girlfriend. In 1991, he married Gina Deboer. They had three children together: a daughter and two sons. They later divorced in 2002.
In October 2010, Seau was in a car accident where his SUV went off a cliff. He said he had fallen asleep while driving.
Junior Seau's Passing
On May 2, 2012, Junior Seau was found dead at his home in Oceanside, California.
There was a lot of talk that Seau might have had brain damage from CTE. This condition is linked to repeated head injuries and can cause symptoms like depression. Many other former NFL players have been found to have CTE after they passed away.
Seau's family gave his brain tissue to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This is part of the NIH. On January 10, 2013, the NIH confirmed that Seau's brain showed clear signs of CTE. Experts said the findings were similar to those in other people who had many head injuries.
In 2013, Seau's family sued the NFL. They believed his brain injuries were caused by his football career.
Junior Seau's Legacy
Seau was known for his exciting way of playing football. He would often do a special fist-pumping dance after making a big play. Many people, including sports writers, called him one of the most exciting players of his time.
His teammates admired his strong work ethic and his leadership skills. He would often play even when he was hurt and did not want to leave games. His coach at New England praised Seau's leadership and willingness to do whatever the team needed.
Honors and Recognition
Junior Seau was named to the Chargers 40th and 50th anniversary teams. These teams honor the best players and coaches in the team's history. He was also put into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Chargers retired his jersey number 55 during a special ceremony after his passing. The city of Oceanside also renamed the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre and the Junior Seau Beach Community Center in his honor in 2012.
On September 16, 2012, the Chargers officially retired his number 55 during a home game. The San Diego Hall of Champions also inducted Seau into their Breitbard Hall of Fame in 2013. They usually wait two years, but they made an exception for him.
Junior Seau became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. On January 31, 2015, he was elected! He is the first player of Polynesian and Samoan descent to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In September 2015, ESPN released a documentary called Seau as part of their 30 for 30 series. It showed his amazing career and how his injuries affected his life and family.
Images for kids
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Seau at training camp in 1994
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Seau with the Patriots in 2008
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Seau honored at the Chargers Ring of Honor
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Seau's jersey was retired by the San Diego Chargers, where he played 13 seasons
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See also
In Spanish: Junior Seau para niños
