By Jordan Hansen
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According to a report from the New York Times, late Iowa Hawkeye safety Tyler Sash was found to have C.T.E., a degenerative disease that is caused by repeated brain injuries.

Sash played for Iowa from 2008-10 and then for the Giants from 2011-12. He died on Sept. 8 of an accidental overdose of pain medication.

The report said that his mother, Barnetta Sash, donated his brain to be studied after his death. Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation notified the family last week that C.T.E. had been found in his brain, the Times reported.

C.T.E, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a disease that has historically been found in boxers, and more recently, in retired, professional football players. According to the Boston University C.T.E Center, the disease is triggered by repeated head trauma and is associated with memory loss, confusion, aggression, and depression.

According to the New York Times, the disease can only be diagnosed posthumously, and Sash was suffering from Stage 2 S.T.E. — a stage not often seen in someone in his 20s.

Sash was a sixth-round pick by the Giants, winning a Super Bowl as a rookie during the 2010-11 season. Injuries cut his career short, however, and he reached an injury settlement with the Giants after he suffered a concussion prior to the 2013 season-opener.

The Iowa football team felt that it would be “premature” to comment on the report at this time.