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Tyler Hilinski's family shocked; does not blame football for son's death

Tyler Hilinski's mother, Kym, said the news that Tyler had a form of a degenerative brain disease was especially hard because football had always been deeply rooted their family.

SPOKANE, Wash. – Tyler Hilinski’s tragic death in January caught many by surprise.

He was just 21 years old when his football teammates found his body in his apartment. The Washington State University quarterback took his own life with a rifle.

Five months later, Hilinski’s family received more shocking news.

Tuesday morning, Hilinski’s parents went on the Today Show to reveal that the Mayo Clinic studied their son’s brain and found evidence of a form of a degenerative brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE.

Several studies have linked CTE to football, which was especially tough for the Hilinski’s parents to hear.

“In sports my biggest fear was neck and back injuries,” Tyler’s father Mark, said. “Of course the ACLs and the ankles and broken bones you sort of take. This one’s a little more unique to our sport it seems.”

Hilinski’s mother Kym said she was stunned when she first got the letter from the clinic that said her son’s brain showed signs of the disease.

“I remember I was by myself when I opened the letter because I needed to know that. It was a shock. I mean it was,” Kym said.

Previous: WSU quarterback Tyler Hilinski had brain disease CTE, family says

Kym said the news was especially hard because football had always been deeply rooted their family. Mark coached Tyler when he was younger and Tyler’s love for football rubbed off on his brothers.

“He has brothers who also played football and it was the sport we loved – love,” she said. “It's generations of family that have loved football. It's hard and of course it's still hard.”

“We had already been through the shock of losing him,” Mark added. “Knowing that he had CTE and the game that we all loved and he loved the most was part of that was difficult to accept.”

Mark and Kym said they had always tried to expose their three sons to all different kinds of sports, but they all gravitated to football. Their youngest son, Ryan, is still playing.

When asked if they still support Ryan playing football after learning about Tyler having CTE, Mark and Kym said it’s their son decision.

“If he were 12, Mark and I would we would make the decision. Right? He's still our child, we'll sign away or won't sign away. If he were 10 very easy decision,” Kym said. “But it's his decision now. So what all we could do was educate him and educate ourselves and support his decision."

Mark added that Ryan loves the sport too much to give it up, even if there is a risk.

“To him, this is a lifestyle and a career choice,” Mark said.

Tyler’s parents went on to say that they don’t blame football for their son’s death.

"If Tyler had died on the field from a severe injury, I wouldn't blame football because it's part of the risk in playing the sport,” Mark said. “If we had something we could take our anger and frustration and sadness out on, football would be a very easy target. And it might make us feel a little better for a bit, but I don't think that's the proper response.”\

Instead, the Hilinski’s are focusing their efforts on destigmatizing mental illness through Hilinski’s Hope foundation. The nonprofit aims to generate funding that can help support programs that will destigmatize mental illness.

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