Former Detroit Lions standout Tracy Scroggins, who spent a decade anchoring the team’s defense, has died at the age of 56 following what his family described as a painful and relentless struggle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy linked to his NFL career.

The news, first reported by TMZ Sports and later confirmed by relatives, was accompanied by a powerful statement in which the family directly attributed his death to the long-term effects of repeated head trauma sustained during professional football.

While specific medical details surrounding his passing were not disclosed, his loved ones emphasized that Scroggins endured severe physical and neurological challenges throughout retirement, including ongoing cognitive and emotional distress.

Drafted by Detroit in the second round in 1992 after college stints at Coffeyville Community College and the University of Tulsa, Scroggins played 142 games for the Lions between 1992 and 2001, earning a reputation for toughness, versatility, and durability while recording more than 60 career sacks—one of the highest totals in franchise history at the time of his retirement.

Despite achieving his lifelong dream and lifting himself out of poverty through football, his family stated that the same game ultimately exacted an irreversible toll on his health.

In later years, Scroggins became involved in legal action against the NFL, alleging the league failed to adequately warn players about the dangers of repetitive head injuries, and he openly discussed the lasting pain, sleep disorders, and isolation he experienced after leaving the game. His family says they now take solace in believing he is finally free from the suffering that defined his post-football life.