NFL great Junior Seau dies at 43

During a 20-year professional football career, the linebacker played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. Seau is survived by three children.

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Feb. 8, 1990

All-American linebacker Junior Seau, right, and Southern California coach Larry Smith, appeared at a news conference in Los Angeles to announce that Seau planned to skip his final year of college to enter the NFL draft. During his junior season in 1989, Seau had 19 sacks and won Pac-10 defensive player of the year honors. The San Diego Chargers selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 1990 draft.

Doug Sheridan / Associated Press

Jan. 15, 1995

San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau tackles Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Ernie Mills during the first quarter of the 1995 AFC championship game Three Rivers Stadium. The Chargers defeated the Steelers, 17-13, to advance to Super Bowl XXIX in Miami.

Keith Srakocic / Associated Press

July 20, 1995

Coming off a loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX the previous season, San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau watches drills while nursing an injury at the teams' training camp.

Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press

Nov. 12, 1995

San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau celebrates sacking Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono in the first quarter of their game in San Diego. The Chiefs held on to win, 22-7.

Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press

Oct. 17, 1999

San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau led the team in tackles in eight seasons. He played in 200 regular season games, tied for second highest in franchise history.

Denis Poroy / Associated Press

April 16, 2003

Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt introduced linebacker Junior Seau in 2003 at a news conference in Davie, Fla. The San Diego Chargers dealt the linebacker to Miami for a conditional draft pick.

J. Pat Carter / Associated Press

Sept. 19, 2004

Junior Seau spent three injury-plagued seasons in Miami, playing 15 games in 2003 but only 15 combined in 2004 and 2005.

Al Berhman / Associated Press

Aug. 14, 2006

Junior Seau speaks to players and staff from the San Diego Chargers before a news conference announcing his retirement at the Chargers training facility in San Diego. Seau announced his retirement after 13 seasons as the live-wire leader of his home town Chargers and three less productive years with the Miami Dolphins.

Sandy Huffaker / Associated Press

Aug. 14, 2006

Linebacker Junior Seau announces his retirement from the NFL at Chargers Park in San Diego. Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler played for the Chargers for 13 seasons before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2003.

Fred Greaves / Reuters

Sept. 23, 2007

Junior Seau’s retirement from the NFL lasted four days. He signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, shortly after his one-day deal and celebration with the San Diego Chargers. He signed another one-year deal with the Patriots in 2007.

Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Oct. 7, 2007

New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau (55) returns an interception thrown by Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, one of three picks the linebacker had that season. Seau finished his NFL career with 18 interceptions.

Stephan Savoia / Associated Press

Dec. 29, 2007

Junior Seau spent all of the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the New England Patriots, then came back to play partial seasons in 2008 and 2009, when the Patriots needed players because of injuries. Seau will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Chris McGrath / Getty Images

Jan. 20, 2008

New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau lifts the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers in the 2008 AFC championship game, 21-12. The Patriots took a perfect 18-0 record into Super Bowl XLII but lost to the New York Giants in Glendale, Ariz., 17-14.

Winslow Townson / Associated Press

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