Junior Seau's family settles wrongful death lawsuit against NFL

The family of Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL, according to the Associated Press.

Seau committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 43. A study of his brain post-death revealed that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease that has since been discovered in several other deceased players and is changing the way head injuries are dealt with in all sports.

The Seau family filed its lawsuit in 2013. In 2014, the family opted out of the NFL concussion plan, which pays up to $4 million to the families of over 20,000 retired players.

Seau played 20 seasons in the NFL, spending the first 13 with the San Diego Chargers before moving on to the Miami Dolphins for three and then the New England Patriots for four. The 12-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2015 class.

Seau had four children, the youngest of which is now 18.