Andre Waters Andre Waters ( March 10 , 1962 – November 20 , 2006 ) was an NFL defensive back who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals from 1984 to 1995 . Waters was regarded as one of the NFL ' s hardest - hitting defenders , serving as an integral part of one of the league ' s top defenses . On November 20 , 2006 , Waters committed suicide in his Tampa , Florida home . Early years . Waters was born in Belle Glade , Florida and grew up in extreme poverty in rural Florida , and attended Pahokee High School . As a senior at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania he was recognized as All - PSAC . NFL career . In 1984 , Waters married Shakiyra Slocum and was signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia Eagles head coach Marion Campbell . He returned a kickoff for an 89 - yard game - winning touchdown against the Washington Redskins as a rookie in 1984 . When Buddy Ryan took over for Campbell in 1986 , he welcomed Waters ' aggressive style as a fierce tackler and ferocious hitter , earning Waters a position in the starting lineup for the next eight years . He blossomed under defensive coordinator Bud Carson . His tackle of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett in 1988 led to a rule prohibiting defensive players from hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket ; for a while , it was unofficially termed the " Andre Waters Rule " . NFL broadcaster Dan Dierdorf notoriously nicknamed the Eagles defender " Dirty Waters " . He scored a touchdown in 1989 when he took a lateral from William Frizzell after Reggie White caused a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms . Waters served as part of the Eagles ' defensive unit that was regarded as one of the league ' s best , in 1991 ranking first statistically in both run and pass defense , as well as total defense . His hard - hitting style translated into leading the team in tackles for four seasons and endeared him with Philadelphia fans but often led to penalties and fines for some of his tackles . He led the Eagles in tackles in 1986 , 1987 , 1988 and 1991 . He recorded 15 interception s in 156 games . In 1994 , he was replaced by Mike Zordich . Retirement and death . After retiring as a player , Waters went on to enjoy success as a college coach at Morgan State University , the University of South Florida , Alabama State University , St . Augustine ' s College , and Fort Valley State University . He tried unsuccessfully to get a job in the NFL and described his disappointment to a " Philadelphia Inquirer " reporter in April 2006 . He remained very close to his former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan , whom Waters said he tried to emulate in his own coaching career . Waters committed suicide shortly after 1 a . m . on November 20 , 2006 , according to the Hillsborough County ( Fla . ) Sheriff ' s Office , dying of a gunshot to the head . He was at his home in Tampa , Florida where he was found by his girlfriend . No suicide note was found . Shortly after Waters ' death , former Harvard defensive tackle and WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski , whose wrestling career was ended by post - concussion syndrome and has since written a book about the dangers of concussion s in contact sports , approached Waters ' family and asked permission to have his brain tissue examined . After receiving permission , Nowinski had samples of Waters ' brain tissue sent to neuropathologist Dr . Bennet Omalu at the University of Pittsburgh . Omalu believed , having examined the tissue , that Waters sustained brain damage from playing football : he went on to state that this led to Waters ' depression . Omalu determined that Waters ' brain tissue had degenerated into that of an 85 - year - old man with similar characteristics to those of early - stage Alzheimer ' s victims that is named chronic traumatic encephalopathy . Omalu said he believed that the damage was caused and / or hastened by the numerous concussions Waters sustained playing football . Additionally , Omalu said that Waters would have been fully incapacitated within ten years . The NFL declined to comment on Waters ' case specifically . A member of the league ' s mild traumatic brain injury committee , Dr . Andrew Tucker , said that the NFL was beginning a study of retired players in 2006 to examine the more general issue of football concussions and subsequent depression .