File: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. "We liked him," Bengals President Mike Brown said on Thursday morning, shortly after learning of Henry's passing. Shane Shelley, 26, was Henry's high school quarterback when they made it to the state title game in 2001, their senior year. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "I think football is a great sport, and we want to make it safer," Bailes said, "but we have to continue to move forward with changes made recently and take the head impacts out of the sport as much as possible.". After a playoff loss to Pittsburgh, he was arrested on a gun charge in Florida. ET. He'll be a soft-spoken, pleasant person.". The former Cincinnati Bengals receiver is remembered fondly in the NFL community, but Henry was more than just a player. "It just comes with time, you know?" 1, a loaded LPGA field and more to watch in golf this week, How to watch PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational on ESPN+, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Everything you need to know about F1's 2023 season, F1 season preview: Who's hot and who's not, Breaking down the latest in 2024 football recruiting, from top commits to March visits, Oral history: When Barcelona, Real Madrid played four Clasicos in 18 days back in 2011, LIVE Transfer Talk: Gvardiol, Bellingham named Real Madrid's top transfer targets. Panthers head coach Frank Reich came away impressed after a meeting with free-agent quarterback Derek Carr on Tuesday, but he said the team is still evaluating both veteran and rookie QB options. Because those types of players have worked out great in Cincinnati. Photo: Chris Henry's funeral Dec. 22, 2009. Victims can lose control of their impulses, suffer depression and memory loss, and ultimately develop dementia. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. All rights reserved. Constitutional carry bill aims to eliminate handgun permits, Medic: Teen dead, driver seriously injured in crash on I-485 in west Charlotte. Perry Mason, season 2 premiere (2020): Period drama. Weve been working on this for three-[to]-four years, and we finally got it done like six, seven months ago.. Are PSG better off without Neymar in big games? Chris Henry Remembered at Funeral. All of the conversation at the Bengals training facility on Thursday -- and their wasn't much because of the widespread grief -- was positive reflection, but Henry shouldn't be canonized. In April, the league announced a $1 million gift to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University. ", "I'm just trying to learn what happened, and what the situation was with Chris' brain," Glaspy told ESPN.com on Sunday. "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? Jones and Henrys friendship began at West Virginia, and their connection has continued long after Henrys passing. His reputation was already costing him the Bengals were the only NFL team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005. And, just like with Belushi, his tragic demise in December 1997 turned into a police investigation after it was learned that a woman had witnessed the struggling star's final drug-fueled hours. In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Tonga said they were not discussing the wedding details on the day the accident occurred. "I learned to handle all situations, so I'll be all right.". We love him.". He was also a father to two young boys and one girl. But using cell-staining techniques discovered and developed by Omalu, scientists can see the dangerous tau proteins and telltale tangles that characterize CTE. Teammates noticed a pronounced change in his demeanor. He was 26. Brown, who was probably more sympathetic to Henry than most, recalled how he was once drawn out of his disengaging shell by the disarming Henry at a Christmas party. We feel it in our hearts.". They warned him that he had to stay in control if he was going to stay in the NFL. Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle." (17 Dec 2009) HEADLINE: Neighbor describes accident scene\r---------------------------------------\rCAPTION: A neighbor of Chris Henry on Thursday described the scene of the accident that took the football player's life, while a friend reflects on the receiver's life. Part of HuffPost News. A loving and caring individual, he was thankful for what he had in life, and proud of what he had overcome.". The accident occurred on December 16th as the 26-year-old was standing in the bed of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee, Loleini Tonga. Now, Tonga and her family have to bear a burden much bigger than the one Henry's teammates must carry as they try to play, win and extend this special season that likely will end up with an AFC North title and a playoff berth. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial, Dramatic police chase airs live during sheriff's radio interview in Florida, Alex Murdaugh testifies 4 years after fatal boat crash involving son, December 18, 2009 - Chris Henry 911 Call: Woman Reported Shirtless Man Beating on Back of Moving Truck (Pictures), December 17, 2009 - Loleini Tonga, Chris Henry's Fiancee, at Center of Storm; Homicide Detectives Look into NFL Death, December 17, 2009 - Chris Henry Dead: NFL Star Thrown From Truck During Dispute with Fiancee Loleini Tonga, Say Cops. "We'll miss Chris' sparkling smile.". Adam 'Pacman' Jones might be tough on the outside, but he is now showing his most softest side when he revealed that he adopted former teammate Chris Henry's . Henry, who grew up in nearby . Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it as part of a toughening of the league's conduct policy. He was 26. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Bengals players, coaches and members of the front office, as well as other NFL players including New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, were among those who attended. CINCINNATI -- It's interesting how tragedy can humanize someone. (17 Dec 2009) HEADLINE: Neighbor describes accident scene-----CAPTION: A neighbor of Chris Henry on Thursday described the . And to his credit, he at least seemed to try. The gore, guts and horror of an NFL fumble pile, I understand why Andrew Luck retired, because Ive been in his shoes, 10 unwritten rules to not screw up your NFL jersey number, The never-before-revealed details of the infamous Eli Manning draft-day trade, NFL referee Sarah Thomas doesn't have time for your nonsense. ", For years, the NFL and its affiliated researchers disputed scientific evidence linking concussions to long-term brain damage. Soft-spoken, funny, not hardly the reckless troublemaker the police, fans, media and everyone else who judged him to be. Alex Murdaugh testifies 4 years after fatal boat crash involving son "We were very comfortable with him in that environment," Lewis said. Police determined earlier this year that charges would not be filed against Tonga. They wouldn't identify the woman, and no charges were immediately filed. A neighbor said Wednesday that the Tonga family owns the home where police say the incident began. He was excited about his career. 15. Then, Bengals owner Mike Brown - who refers to himself as "a redeemer" - changed his mind and gave him another chance. 15 2013, Updated 9:30 p.m. Chris Henry DEAD: Car Accident Killed Bengals Receiver, Report Says. The good stories are the ones often remembered in death. And starting with Mike Webster, we have seen common threads in these cases: emotional disturbances, depression, failed personal relationships and businesses, suicidal thoughts, sometimes alcohol or drug use. Market data provided by Factset. File: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Jones joined the team just months after Henrys tragic death in December of 2009. Haz clic en Gestionar ajustes para obtener ms informacin y gestionar tus opciones. Players, however, admitted that Henry's death hits closer because he was a peer. He was released by the Bengals the same day. A surgeon and the father-in-law of Asaduddin Owaisi's second daughter, Mazharuddin Ali Khan, died by suicide on Monday in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.. As per the Tv9 Telugu, the orthopedic surgeon took the extreme step due to a family dispute, reports said. Adam Jones reveals he adopted Chris Henrys sons, Duke Tobin admits he doesnt know if Joe Mixon remains with the Bengals, Mel Kiper projects Bengals to take a guy who played in just 2 games last season due to injury. Henry jumped into the back of the truck and began beating on the back window in an effort to get her to stop the vehicle. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y la Poltica de cookies. Chris Henry, the late Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death, according to scientists at the Brain Injury Research Institute. Bailes, a former Pittsburgh Steelers team doctor and currently the team doctor for West Virginia, said his quest is to make football safer. After staining, normal brain cells are blue and uncluttered under a microscope, while Henry's brain cells were discolored, clumpy and filled with threads, according to the researchers. That's why I got it.". CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX19) - The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office in North Carolina released the autopsy report for Chris Henry on Tuesday. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Police said Tonga was going between 19-23 mph when he fell. When he showed up in the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix the fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback. Now, she wishes she would have said something. It is still not clear whether Henry jumped or fell, but as Tonga was driving at about 19 mph, Henry crashed to the ground, suffering a fractured skull and massive head injuries. Lewis said a lot of Henry's issues were because of the folks he chose to surround himself with, especially those from his native Louisiana who counted on him to care for them, particularly after Hurricane Katrina. His fiance, Loleini Tonga, told ESPN in January that Henry jumped, not fell, from the back of the truck while the two were having an argument. No traces of alcohol were found in a toxicology report, which didn't include any other tests for drugs. Im still close with his whole entire family. ", MORE ON CRIMESIDERDecember 18, 2009 - Chris Henry 911 Call: Woman Reported Shirtless Man Beating on Back of Moving Truck (Pictures)December 17, 2009 - Loleini Tonga, Chris Henry's Fiancee, at Center of Storm; Homicide Detectives Look into NFL DeathDecember 17, 2009 - Chris Henry Dead: NFL Star Thrown From Truck During Dispute with Fiancee Loleini Tonga, Say Cops, Trending News "It was something new to me. According to the report, the truck was traveling at 19 miles per hour when Henry exited the truck. This syndrome is expressed not only as changes in the brain, but clinically, as behavioral changes. But in the final month of the season he was arrested for marijuana possession. Coach Marvin Lewis said Henry had become a different man. I'm still trying to educate myself as to what it means. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Henry?s death was ruled to be accidental, and no charges will be pursued against his fiance. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. While the links between CTE and behavior are still being studied, many of the former athletes diagnosed with this form of brain damage died under unusual circumstances. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? However, referring to reports of CTE among former players, NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee co-chair Richard Ellenbogen told The New York Times earlier this month, "They aren't assertions or hype -- they are facts.". He's sorry for them, apologized for them, and has done everything he can to make himself a better person. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, directed by Stephen Daldry, will receive its world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End in late 2023. Some of it makes sense with some of the behavioral patterns in Chris -- just like mood swings and the headaches. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? "He's changed his life around. Remember the good. They were teammates in college, though, as both played for West Virginia before being drafted into the NFL in 2005. Many from Henry's hometown of Belle Chasse wore red ribbons with a small photo of Henry that read: "In loving memory" and "Chris 'Slim' Henry.". The Bengals rallied behind beloved defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer when his wife, Vikki, who routinely baked cookies for the team, unexpectedly died in early October. The medical examiner said "the cause of death in this case is blunt force head trauma due to a fall from a motor vehicle.". December 23, 2009 / 9:00 AM He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the game. We all family. pic.twitter.com/nywSiFdGhv. A thigh injury slowed him early in the season, and he had 12 catches for 236 yards - his 19.7-yard average per catch leads the team - when he broke his left arm during a win over Baltimore on Nov. 22, ending his season. This time, Henry seemed determined to stay out of trouble. At the nucleus of that circle were his fiance, Loleini Tonga, their three young kids and Tonga's family in Charlotte. http://twitter.com/theyoungturks Check Out TYT Interviews http://www.youtube.com/user/TYTInt. In 2007, Benoit strangled his wife and 7-year-old son, then put Bibles next to their bodies and hanged himself. He was suspended five times for arrests ranging from weapons charges to drugs. Henry dreamed of playing in the NFL, but after he was ejected from a game and suspended for another at West Virginia, the Bengals were the only team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005. Despite the couple's issues, Tonga said Henry loved his fiancee and was looking forward to their life together. He loved my niece to death.". When you see him up close, you'll find that you'll like him. "I'm just happy they took me.". The reason why he was crying: The death of fellow wide receiver and teammate Chris Henry, who passed away Thursday morning from injuries sustained fewer than 24 hours earlier in a bizarre. Henry, who was awide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals,died in December after falling from his fiance's pick-up truck. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Marvin Lewis delivered eulogies. That his life was cut short just as he was turning it around made Henry's story so tragic, Goodell said. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 - Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it - as part of a toughening of the league's conduct policy. Copyright 2010 FOX19. No charges were filed against Tonga. Charlotte is home to his fiancee's parents. Henry, a native of Belle Chasse, La., played collegiately at West Virginia and was a third-round pick by the Bengals in 2005. But it doesn't take a collision with another player for brain trauma to occur. Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh Vesi Tonga said she witnessed many arguments--some even led to pushing and shoving but she never spoke up about their problems. Tonga also said she wasn't driving fast whenHenrycame out of the truck. Alleged MySpace profile of his fiance: Click HERE. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. You doing all right?' The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. "For those who knew Chris, he was nothing like his public perception. Tonga, wearing large sunglasses, paused to gather herself repeatedly as she spoke to hundreds of mourners at his funeral including Henry's teammates who filled the grandstands at a suburban New Orleans events center. Charlotte-Mecklenbruck police tell TMZ Henry died at 6:36 AM EST this morning. "He had worked through trouble in his life and had seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom, and he was going to have the future we all wanted for him -- and he wanted for himself. The Bengals wore black round buttons on their lapels with Henry's No. Hang onto those memories. His brain was taken to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where a neuropathologic exam reveal he suffered a hemorrhage and contusional injuries. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities describe as a domestic dispute with his fiancee. He couldn't hide his red, swollen eyes or the tear tracks that ran down his puffy cheeks. "He walked past my locker every day to shake my hand as I said, 'Good morning,' and every day he said, 'What's up, cuz,"' Palmer said. Jun. Despite some suggestion online earlier that Bengals receiver Chris Henry is dead following a bizarre car accident, the latest news suggests that he's not quite dead yet, although police have started a homicide investigation. CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's office has released the autopsy report for Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry who died in north Charlotte last December. That hub of support is why the Bengals had no problem with Henry being in Charlotte, even though most players on injured reserve remain with the team while rehabbing every day, attending meetings, practices and home games. Read about Dr Mazhar Ali Khan death. Henry was unresponsive when paramedics arrived. Photo . NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? Tonga has to live with that horrific moment, and the ones that led up to the sequence in the pickup truck that ended with Henry dead. Henry was 26. Jones life has been filled with highs and lows since he first stepped onto the NFL scene, but this is undoubtedly a commendable move on his part. Henry, 26, died on Dec. 17, 2009, a day after he either jumped or fell from the back of a moving pickup truck being driven by his fiance, Loleini Tonga. Copyright 2010 WBTV. Tonga's Myspace page announced the couple had just bought their wedding ringsjust days before he died. Police ruled the incident an accident. We lost one of us. Henry and Loleini Tonga also have a daughter, Seini . He'll be a soft-spoken, pleasant person.". * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He was released by the Bengals the same day. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry has been involved in a serious auto accident after a domestic dispute with his fiance Loleini Tonga near Charlotte, North Carolina. #inline-recirc-item--id-d434d30c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Henry was only 26 years old. "I'm just happy they took me.". Rain Dogs, season 1 premiere (2023): Dark comedy. 32 NFL players who could change teams this offseason. "We ask that you keep Chris' family especially the young children he leaves behind in your prayers," Simms said. She wonders if that love cost Henry his life. The toxicology report revealed no alcohol in Henry's system at the time of his death. display: none; Henry would be 38 if he were living today, watching now 14-year-old Chris Jr. ("Man-Man") and 12-year-old DeMarcus ("Bubba") play football. Last night reports emerged that he was "battling for life" following a domestic dispute. He's a good person. In the final month of the season, he also showed his other side, getting arrested for marijuana possession. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Henry and Tonga were arguing at a home owned by Tonga's family on Peachtree Road when Tonga attempted to drive away. Their days together in Morgantown is where they became great friends. He changed mine.". Researchers have now discovered CTE in the brains of more than 50 deceased former athletes, including more than a dozen NFL and college players, pro wrestler Chris Benoit and NHL player Reggie Fleming. Palmer made some chuckle as he remembered Henry's friendly demeanor. Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences. Below his left ear, in flowing one-inch script, was the world "Blessed. Police said a dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence. It was a jolt to Henry, who had dreamed of an NFL career since high school, when he got the NFL logo tattooed on the back of his right hand. } They found that his demeanor didn't match his reputation. Ex-Steeler Justin Strzelczyk, for example, was killed in 2004 after experiencing hallucinations, leading police on a high-speed chase for 40 miles before driving his car into a tanker truck. This is a downcast period for the Bengals, not only losing 27-24 against San Diego, but having to bury a friend and teammate. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! he said. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento desde tus controles de privacidad. Gambling problem? "Can't nobody know the way I'm feeling right now. Fiancee Loleini Tonga Involved In Death. According to the autopsy, Henry's official cause of death was blunt force . No. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Photo: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, second from left, is comforted while viewing teammate Chris Henry before the memorial service. } Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. ", Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. They warned him that he had to stay in control if he was going to stay in the NFL. Then, they picked him in the third round. Owner Mike Brown then brought him back a few months later, signing . "It's hard. Mourners gather before a memorial service for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry in Westwego, La., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. Henry become a vital part of the offense as a rookie, helping the Bengals reach the playoffs in 2005 with his ability to run past defenders to grab long passes. Photo: Chris Henry's funeral Dec. 22, 2009. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. PICTURES: Chris Henry Funeral. In a sense, it was already a second chance. Strange . Henry grew up in the small, suburban community of Belle Chasse, not far from the funeral site.