The late Frank Wycheck, who is remembered for the pass that started the iconic "Music City Miracle" play, suffered from an advanced stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), researchers said.

Wycheck died in December 2023 after he sustained a fall at his Tennessee home. He had made clear that he wished to work with experts on CTE research and related brain injuries. 

A study of Wycheck's brain conducted by researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center confirmed the former Tennessee Titans star tight end also suffered from the degenerative brain disease during the final years of his life. 

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Wycheck was diagnosed with CTE stage III. Stage IV is the most severe form of the disease and can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression. CTE can occur after repeated head injuries, such as concussions or blows to the head, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

A 2017 study conducted by the Boston University CTE Center concluded that the brains of 99% of former NFL players had at least trace amounts of the neurodegenerative disease. Researchers studied the brains of 202 former football players.

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Wycheck, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end, played in the NFL from 1993 and 2003, starting with Washington and finishing his career with the Houston Oilers organization, which moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.

Wycheck’s family said in a statement they are grateful for this diagnosis, which they believe further highlights the concerns around CTE in contact sports like football. They want to honor his legacy with a stronger commitment to player safety and support for those affected by head injuries.

His daughters said their family had challenges understanding both the physical and mental changes Wycheck was experiencing, thinking he was just missing the spotlight of his career.

"We witnessed our father becoming increasingly isolated and experiencing drastic mood swings. He became more impulsive, and often inconsistent and undependable," Deanna Wycheck Szabo said in a statement. "Now in hindsight, I understand that he was suffering from the symptoms of CTE due to the repeated trauma his brain and body endured over 11 seasons in the NFL."

Szabo said Wycheck loved football and his teammates. She said he fought for years after retiring to bring attention to the symptoms and struggles he knew stemmed from CTE, feeling too often ignored and helpless. Szabo also said she wishes her family had been educated on CTE symptoms to know what to look for and now hope for increased intervention, education and support for NFL alumni and their families.

"Instead of believing that something was inherently wrong with him, we now know he was doing the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control," Szabo said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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• Wildfires are rampaging across Los Angeles County this week.
• Hundreds of thousands of people are under evacuation orders or warnings.
• The Palisades and Eaton fires remain uncontained, with more than 27,000 acres burned.

The Los Angeles area battled several fires that continued to rip through its picturesque mountains and hillsides on Friday — creating a hellscape of burned-out neighborhoods and livelihoods, with nearly 180,000 people under evacuation orders.

Thick bands of smoke could be seen in several directions from the city's downtown core — with at least five fires burning throughout the 4,000 square-mile county that's home to nearly 10 million people.

As of Thursday morning local time, an additional 200,000 people had been placed under evacuation warnings — with officials advising them to get ready to leave their homes if the fires raging near their residences got closer.

More than 27,000 acres have burned so far — and at least five deaths have been reported, officials said. They wouldn't confirm an exact death toll at a Thursday briefing.

They said "thousands" of homes and other structures had been destroyed so far. According to AccuWeather's preliminary estimates, the damage in the wake of the fires could rise beyond $60 billion.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the scene in LA as apocalyptic.

"Not since the 1990s, when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake, and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city," Hochman said at the briefing, referring to the Northridge Earthquake and the disturbances in the wake of the Rodney King verdict.

Two of the largest fires, the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire, are still at zero percent containment, officials said. The National Weather Service predicted the "red flag warning" that signals high fire danger will persist for LA County and nearby Ventura County through Friday.

But there was some brightening on the horizon: Officials said weather conditions are beginning to turn favorably for firefighters.

Meanwhile, 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in areas affected by the fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at Thursday's briefing.

And he issued a stern warning to the public: Anyone who remains in areas under mandatory evacuation orders is guilty of a misdemeanor, and his officers will begin enforcing that. Beyond that, crimes like looting could reach the felony level, he said.

As for people still in their homes, around 95,000 power customers remain in the dark, Janisse Quiñones, the CEO and chief engineer of the city's Department of Water and Power, said. Satellite images showed the destruction in the wake of the fires.

Here's a look at the latest happenings in the main fires spreading throughout the area:

Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica was the first fire to strike the region on Tuesday morning. It has spread to over 17,000 acres, with zero percent containment, making it one of the worst natural disasters in LA history, officials said Thursday morning.

The blaze has reduced thousands of structures to rubble, but exact numbers are not yet known, the officials said.

Wind gusts in the area have tamed down some since their Tuesday highs of nearly 100 mph but remain up to 60 mph. They're expected to continue through Thursday.

Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley would not confirm reports that the fire started in a resident's garden, saying the origin is still under investigation.

The affluent area is home to many celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, who have lost their homes in the blaze.

Eaton Fire

The second-largest fire in Los Angeles County is the Eaton fire, which started on Tuesday evening in the Pasadena-Altadena area at the foothills of the Angeles National Forest.

The blaze has spread to over 10,000 acres and reduced at least 1,000 homes to ash as of Thursday, officials said. Like the Palisades Fire, it is zero percent contained.

Still, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire's growth has been "significantly stopped," and the cause remains unknown.

Hurst Fire

The Hurst Fire, which began late on Tuesday night in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, has spread to around 855 acres, according to data from CalFire, a state agency.

LAFD's Crowley said the Hurst fire was zero percent contained, while CalFire data estimates it is 10% contained.

Crowley said firefighters have been able to hold the fire within a containment area and have established a perimeter.

Sunset Fire and others

The Sunset Fire broke out in the Runyan Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, quickly spreading to scorch over 40 acres and threaten major LA landmarks.

As of Thursday morning, firefighters were able to stop the fire's forward progress, Crowley said. Crews are still working to "put out spot fires within the perimeters to keep the wind from spreading any additional embers," she said.

All evacuation orders related to the Sunset Fire were lifted as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Crowley said.

Meanwhile, a large structure fire broke out nearby, consuming two large homes in the Studio City area. Still, firefighters were able to stop its forward growth at just one acre and prevent another brushfire, Crowley said.

This a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

• This January, Costco is stocking its shelves with fun food items and home goods.
• Accomplish 2025 workout goals with the King Smith WalkingPad Pro folding treadmill.
• I recommend picking up the Pressed wellness smoothies and Del Real tamales.

With the start of the new year, I'm excited to see what kinds of products Costco will introduce in 2025. As an employee, I always love browsing the store for unique items I haven't seen before.

This January, I've already noticed lots of great food, home goods, and beauty products on shelves. Here are 10 things I recommend checking out at Costco this month.

• I visited KFC's spin-off restaurant, Saucy, that's all about chicken tenders and dipping sauces.
• The first Saucy location is in Orlando, and I'd definitely go back for its delicious food.
• The restaurant's crispy chicken tenders and tasty sauces felt like an excellent value.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has a new spin-off in town that's all about chicken tenders and dips — and it's called Saucy.

The restaurant's first location opened in Orlando in late December, about 90 minutes away from my home.

Although I couldn't tell you the last time I went to KFC, I was excited to try Saucy, as it's a concept the chain hopes to expand around the country.

Here's what it was like and why I'll absolutely be back.

The NBA has postponed Thursday's game between the Hornets and Lakers in Los Angeles because of the ongoing wildfires in the metropolitan area.

This week's debut of the TGL indoor golf league drew nearly a million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen.

This afternoon’s collection of the best Android game and app price drops is now ready to go. Alongside our updated collection of the most interesting new gear from CES 2025, we are also tracking a massive $400 price drop on Google Pixel 8 Pro alongside this Samsung Galaxy Fit3 fitness tracker launch promotion, and a new all-time low on Lenovo’s latest Chromebook Duet 11. But for now it’s all about the apps, including titles like Secret of Mana, Adventures of Mana, Legend of Mana, Trials of Mana, Chicken Police, SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

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Google today announced a “Supporters of Chromium-based Browsers” initiative in partnership with The Linux Foundation, while detailing its contributions to the open-source browser project.

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The wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is set to give birth any day now.

An "awkward" situation unfolded in the firing of the Raiders' head coach.

"The Fall of Diddy," a four-part docuseries, premieres January 27 on ID Discovery and then streams on Max.

The Las Vegas Raiders have officially fired general manager Tom Telesco.

Following a family gathering, the '19 Kids and Counting' alum's husband noted that he doesn't 'respect' her dad, Jim Bob Duggar.

Rollins is making some bold claims about other WWE superstars.

Donald Trump claimed Gavin Newsom didn't sign a document on California water policy that Newsom's office said didn't exist.

"Mother nature doesn't wait for paperwork."

Flags will remain at half-staff for President Jimmy Carter for 30 days following his death on December 29.

Zachary Young, a U.S. Navy veteran and former U.S. government operative, is accusing CNN of defamation.

Jason Carter remembered his grandfather as a man of God and a man of the people at his Jimmy Carter's state funeral.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Biden administration are attempting to block the deal to pursue capital punishment.