TAMPA, FL — New details emerged on Wednesday around the death of Widefield and Northern Colorado football star Vincent Jackson.
According to a release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the family of Jackson believes he was suffering from chronic alcoholism and concussions at the time of his death.
The statement came after Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister went on a local morning radio show on Q105 on Wednesday to discuss Jackson's death.
“We haven't got the toxicology report back so I can't say with any certainty that that was it,” Chronistertold radio station Q105. “But a lot of longstanding health conditions contributed to his passing because of some alcohol abuse.”
Jackson was found dead Monday at the Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida.
The sheriff also said Jackson’s family was concerned the former NFL player might have had issues with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE. The disease is a form of brain degeneration associated with concussions.
Jackson was known to hav many concussions over his 12-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers.
According to a report from ESPN, there has been no indication of foul play and that "it will take a completed autopsy report and toxicology report to know with certainty what caused his death."
The autopsy report is not expected for a few weeks per the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
