Aaron Hernandez was diagnosed with an advanced case of CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, according to Boston University’s Ann McKee, the director of CTE Center. Fiancee Shayanna Jenkins is suing the NFL and the New England Patriots on behalf of Hernandez’s four year old daughter Avielle due to this diagnosis.

According to TMZ Sports Hernandez had stage 3 CTE, which is usually seen in players with a median age of death of 67 years. Jenkins states that the NFL and Patriots were fully aware of the damage that could be inflicted from repetitive impact injury.

CTE is a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas, which is very common for football players. Former players such as, Jovan Belcher, Forrest Blue, Bill Bryant, and Lew Carpenter were diagnosed with CTE.

According to CNN,  symptoms include: cognitive impairment, impulsive behavior, emotional instability, and suicidal thoughts.

According to the New York Times, data compiled by researchers at Stanford showed that one college offensive lineman sustained 62 of these hits in a single game. Each one came with an average force on the player’s head equivalent to what you would see if he had driven his car into a brick wall at 30 m.p.h. Due to Hernandez’s lengthy football career the disability gradually worsened over time.  

Hernandez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, said that Hernandez’s case of CTE is the worst ever seen in a 27 year old man.

Hernandez committed suicide in April 2017, he hung himself with a bedsheet while serving time in prison.

Hernandez was doing time for the murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd in June of 2013. He was found guilty by a jury of his peers in April of 2015.

Hernandez was on trial again in April for a double murder in Boston. After being found not guilty, he chose to commit suicide rather than complete his sentence.

“We are reviewing the lawsuit now. On first blush, we believe the claim will face significant legal issues from the start, and we intend to contest the claim vigorously,” issued NFL executive vice president of communications, Joe Lockhart.

Miss Jenkins seeks $20 million and claims the team and NFL deprived Avielle of the companionship of her father.