Demaryius Thomas, a four-time All-Pro recipient with the Denver Broncos, died of complications from seizures, the Fulton County, Georgia coroner said Sunday.
Thomas died on December 9 at his home in Roswell, Georgia, less than six months after retiring from the NFL. He was 33.
In July, Boston University doctors examining Thomas’ brain found that he had CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease associated with repeated headbutts. The disease, which can only be diagnosed posthumously, does not cause death. Doctors said they believed Thomas’s attacks were caused by a car accident in 2019 in which his head smashed into the windshield and a hydraulic rescue tool was needed to get him out of the vehicle.
dr. Ann McKee, the neuropathologist who examined Thomas’s brain, said it was highly unlikely that CTE would trigger his seizures, and Thomas most likely died of asphyxiation following a seizure.
While the cause of death was officially determined, Bertram Ennett, an investigator in the Fulton County medical examiner’s office, said the manner in which he died was still undetermined.
Thomas’ driver found him lying in the shower at his house, according to Bobby Thomas, Demaryius’ father.
Bobby Thomas and other relatives and friends said that Demaryius Thomas’ attacks had become more frequent and pronounced in the last year of his life. They charged with little or no warning, leading Thomas to wreck other cars and fall down stairs.
At the same time, he suffered from some of the conditions associated with CTE, including memory loss, paranoia, and isolation. His behavior became increasingly erratic, those closest to him said, and he went for long stretches without leaving his home or responding to phone calls and texts.
Thomas suffered from headaches throughout his NFL career, which began in 2010 when he was called up to the Georgia Tech first round. In Super Bowl 50, which concluded the 2015 season, Thomas was leveled in-game by Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and had such a headache that he missed most games after the Broncos’ victory.
In 2019, Thomas was driving 70 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone in Denver when he lost control and overturned his car several times.
Thomas returned to play the 2019 season, his last, with the Jets, playing in 11 games. He continued to exercise in 2020, but stopped training mid-year as the frequency of his attacks increased. He sat out that season and officially retired in June 2021.
Thomas played 10 seasons in the NFL, with the Broncos, Houston Texans, and Jets, catching 724 passes for 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns.
In a video announcing his retirementThomas said he was still deciding what to do next and that he wanted to build relationships with anyone who could help.
“It’s not easy to leave football,” he said. “Because that’s my main thing, just trying to find myself and radiate love.”