Report: Deceased linebacker Belcher likely had CTE

Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher was likely suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy at the time of his death.

The Kansas City Star reports that a post-mortem analysis of Belcher's body revealed the 25-year-old's brain showed signs of CTE, a degenerative disease that has been linked to depression, dementia and aggressive behaviors. 

Belcher died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in December 2012 after killing girlfriend Kasanda Perkins. 

Repeated head trauma, such as that experienced by some football players, is believed to be a factor in causing CTE.