Dave Duerson David Russell Duerson ( November 28 , 1960February 17 , 2011 ) was an American football safety in the National Football League ( NFL ) who played for the Chicago Bears ( 1983 – 1989 ) , the New York Giants ( 1990 ) , and the Phoenix Cardinals ( 1991 – 1993 ) . He earned significant honors during his career , including selection to four consecutive Pro Bowl s for NFL seasons 1985 through 1988 . Early life . Duerson played football , basketball , and baseball at Muncie ( Indiana ) Northside High School . He was given an opportunity to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a pitcher and outfielder in 1979 , but declined . Duerson received many honors during his high school years , including the 1979 Indiana Mr . Football , and was part of the National Honor Society and The Musical Ambassadors All - American Band . College career . Duerson played college football at the University of Notre Dame from 1979 to 1982 . He graduated with honors , with a BA in Economics . He started all four years , and earned recognition as an All - America n in 1981 and 1982 . He was named as his team ' s MVP in 1982 , and a Captain . He was the winner of the Edward " Moose " Krause Distinguished Service Award in 1990 by the Notre Dame Monogram Club , of which he was a past president . He was also a member of the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees from 2001 - 2005 . Professional career . Duerson was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1986 to 1989 in his career , and won two championship rings , with the Bears ( Super Bowl XX ) , and with the Giants ( Super Bowl XXV ) . During the 1986 season , Duerson set an NFL record ( later broken in 2005 by Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals ) for most sacks in a season by a defensive back , with seven . He also intercepted six passes for 139 yards with a long return of 38 yards . At season ' s end , Duerson was named first team All - Pro by Pro Football Weekly , the Pro Football Writers Association and The Sporting News and second team All - Pro by AP . In 1987 , Duerson was the recipient of the NFL Man of the Year Award . In his 11 seasons , Duerson recorded 20 interceptions , which he returned for 226 yards , and 16 quarterback sacks . He also recovered five fumbles , returning them for 47 yards and a touchdown . After football . Duerson owned three McDonald ' s restaurants in Louisville , Kentucky for six months , from late 1994 to April 1995 . He purchased the majority interest in Fair Oaks Farms ( formerly Brooks Sausage Company ) in 1995 . Duerson grew the company from $ 24M revenue to over $ 63 . 5M in six years . He sold his stake in the company in 2002 and started Duerson Foods , but that company was forced into receivership in 2006 and most of its assets were auctioned off . Death . Duerson was found dead at his Sunny Isles Beach , Florida home on February 17 , 2011 . The Miami - Dade County medical examiner reported that Duerson died of a self - inflicted gunshot wound to the chest . He sent a text message to his family saying he wanted his brain to be used for research at the Boston University School of Medicine , which is conducting research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) caused by playing professional football . He left behind three sons and a daughter from his marriage to ex - wife Alicia Duerson . On May 2 , 2011 , neurologists at Boston University confirmed that he suffered from a neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions .