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Junior Seau’s daughter not allowed to speak at HOF induction

By Matt Verderame

Junior Seau was a linebacker who could do it all.
Junior Seau was a linebacker who could do it all. /
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Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 8, 2015. After playing in the NFL for 20 years with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, Seau was inducted on the first-ballot.

Unfortunately, Seau won’t be at the ceremony, having committed suicide via gunshot to the chest on May 2, 2012. His daughter, Sydney Seau, would like to speak for him at the induction, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame has declined that request, instead opting to show a five-minute video in tribute to her father, according to Pro Football Talk. The decision solely belongs to the Hall of Fame.

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Why Seau’s daughter can’t make a speech is likely because the Hall of Fame is concerned about what might be said. Seau ultimately took his life, perhaps because of repeated blows to his brain that he sustained while playing professional football. The family currently has a lawsuit pending with the National Football League, which was originally filed in 2013. Regardless of the reason, not allowing a grieving daughter to speak at what should have been her father’s finest moment is gross and embarrassing.  Per the New York Times:

“It’s frustrating because the induction is for my father and for the other players, but then to not be able to speak, it’s painful,” Sydney said. “I just want to give the speech he would have given. It wasn’t going to be about this mess. My speech was solely about him.”

Hall of Fame executive director Jeff Baker weighed in, but probably should not have.

"“We’re not the N.F.L., but the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Baker said. “Our mission is to honor the heroes of the game and Junior is a hero of the game. We’re going to celebrate his life, not the death and other issues.”"

The 12-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro was found to have the generative brain condition known as CTE upon his autopsy. Seau finished his brilliant career with two Super Bowl appearances, 1,846 tackles and 56.5 sacks. He is in the Chargers’ Hall of Fame, easily the greatest defensive player that franchise has known in 55 seasons.

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