Former Predators captain Greg Johnson was suffering from CTE when he died by suicide in 2019, his family and the Concussion Legacy Foundation announced Wednesday.
Johnson, who died on July 7, 2019, in Detroit at age 48, was diagnosed with CTE by Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center.
“The diagnosis took our breath away,” Christine Johnson, Greg’s wife of 22 years, said in a press release. “Greg’s death has shattered our world. We never thought this disease was something he was afflicted by. As far as we knew, he had minimal symptoms, but he often spoke about his concussions.
“I still remember the moment when my father told me that he was lucky that he had been forced to retire due to heart problems because he didn’t want to take any more hits. He knew that his hockey career had had a huge impact on his brain.”
Johnson played in Nashville from 1998-2006 and also played 12 seasons in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.
“When my father took his life, we didn’t even know what CTE stood for,” Greg’s eldest daughter, Carson Johnson, said in a statement. “Now that I know the blows he suffered throughout his hockey career caused brain damage, I want all athletes to understand the risks and I want the NHL to acknowledge its existence and do more to protect its players so other daughters don’t have to lose their fathers.”
CTE is a neurodegenerative brain disease linked to repeated concussions or blows to the head.
According to a study cited by CLF, a concussion doubles the risk of suicide, but a concussion diagnosis “should not be considered a cause of suicide.”
According to the foundation, a public investigation found that 17 of 18 NHL players tested in the United States and Canada had CTE.
