Junior Seau

Thousands of fans got the chance to cheer one more time for Junior Seau at the stadium where he starred for 13 seasons. Hours after Seau was buried in his hometown Friday, a crowd estimated at 20,000 attended a public memorial service at Qualcomm Stadium for the hard-hitting, fist-pumping linebacker. Many wore Seau's No. 55 — in Chargers blue, Southern California cardinal and gold and Miami Dolphins aqua and orange. One of Seau's cousins wore a jersey combining the colors of all three of his pro teams, including the New England Patriots.

A San Diego restaurant opened by Junior Seau in 1996 has closed its doors two weeks after the NFL star's suicide. Trustees of Seau's estate say they made the decision to close Seau's The Restaurant in Mission Valley on Wednesday. Trustee Bette Hoffman says in a statement that the decision to close the restaurant was made to honor Seau's legacy. She also says trustees felt the restaurant's future profitability could be in question without Seau's leadership. The eatery's website describes it as San Diego's largest sports-themed restaurant, with 60 TVs offering contemporary...

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff He will forever be associated with the San Diego Chargers for reasons both triumphant and tragic. But the coda to Junior Seau 's brilliant 20-year NFL career came here in New England, where he spent 38 regular-season games over four seasons proving how a player of such individual distinction could become a wonderfully enthusiastic role player and teammate. Seau, who died Wednesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 43, was a favorite of the coach, Bill Belichick, who once coached Lawrence Taylor with the Giants and has an obvious...

A bicycle stolen from Junior Seau's Oceanside home days after the former NFL star's suicide has been recovered, police said. An unidentified woman called police Wednesday after seeing a bicycle that matched the description of the one that was stolen from Seau's garage on May 7, said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata. Police confirmed it was the stolen bicycle and contacted the man in possession of it. He told police he bought the bike from an unidentified man in Oceanside on May 8. The man with the bike was ruled out as a suspect.

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft, fighting back tears, read a note that Junior Seau sent him last year, a few weeks after Myra Kraft passed away. Kraft met with the media at Gillette Stadium Thursday, sharing his memories on the former Patriots linebacker, who died yesterday of an apparent suicide. "Junior was one of those special people who came through our locker room," Kraft said. "We always knew his real family, he was really a Charger. Even when he was here we knew in the end he would be a Charger; but we were pretty close first cousins, because the years he spent here we felt...

FOXBOROUGH -- Matthew Slater, one of many Patriots working out at Gillette Stadium today, took a few minutes to reflect on former teammate Junior Seau, who died of an apparent suicide Wednesday in his Southern California home at age 43. "He was so full of life. Everybody keeps saying that, but he was. He was so full of life and it just comes as a total shock," Slater said. "Your heart really goes out to his family. You know, you saw his mom's response. No mother should have to bury her son, so I just think we're all in a state of shock right now. " Slater, himself a...

Several members of the New England Patriots have reacted to news of Junior Seau's death on Twitter. Here are some of those reactions.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Junior Seau's brain will be donated by his family for research into football-related head injuries. San Diego Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said he didn't know where the brain will be sent. ‘‘The Seau family really has, almost like Junior, a philanthropic approach, where they always desire to help others," Mitchell said in a phone interview Friday. ‘‘The purpose is not initially to discover anything about their son and what led to these tragic circumstances, but rather the betterment of other people and athletes down the road through anything...

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff The Patriots organization has released the following statement on the death of former Patriots linebacker Junior Seau: "We were shocked to hear of the initial reports regarding Junior Seau earlier today and are deeply saddened by the news of his death. We were fortunate to have had Junior join the Patriots in 2006 and are thankful for his many contributions to the team over the next four years. He had a legendary NFL career and his unrivaled passion for the game quickly made him a fan favorite here in New England.

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft, fighting back tears, read a note that Junior Seau sent him last year, a few weeks after Myra Kraft passed away. Kraft met with the media at Gillette Stadium today, sharing his memories on the former Patriots linebacker, who died yesterday of an apparent suicide. "Junior was one of those special people who came through our locker room," Kraft said. "We always knew his real family, he was really a Charger. Even when he was here we knew in the end he would be a Charger; but we were pretty close first cousins,...

Thousands of fans got the chance to cheer one more time for Junior Seau at the stadium where he starred for 13 seasons. Hours after Seau was buried in his hometown Friday, a crowd estimated at 20,000 attended a public memorial service at Qualcomm Stadium for the hard-hitting, fist-pumping linebacker. Many wore Seau's No. 55 — in Chargers blue, Southern California cardinal and gold and Miami Dolphins aqua and orange. One of Seau's cousins wore a jersey combining the colors of all three of his pro teams, including the New England Patriots.

County officials say the body of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was released to his family this weekend after undergoing an autopsy. The North County Times reports ( http://bit.ly/IWBs5T) researchers have expressed interest in studying Seau's brain, which may have suffered many concussions during his long football career. Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest May 2 in a spare bedroom of his house, where his girlfriend discovered him. He played for the University of Southern California before joining the NFL's San Diego...

Several hundred people have taken part in a paddle-out in front of Junior Seau's Southern California home to pay tribute to the former NFL linebacker. The Los Angeles Times reports ( http://lat.ms/LpeO5y) that participants at Sunday's seaside memorial included Seau's former teammate Drew Brees, who played quarterback for the San Diego Chargers when Seau was the star linebacker. The 43-year-old Seau committed suicide Wednesday at his home in Oceanside. Seau was an avid surfer who was often seen riding the waves in front of his home.

The latest from Globe editorial cartoonist Dan Wasserman.

SAN DIEGO - Junior Seau's brain will be donated by his family for research into football-related head injuries, according to Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell, although he didn't know where the brain will be sent. "The Seau family really has, almost like Junior, a philanthropic approach, where they always desire to help others," Mitchell said in a phone interview Friday. Seau, 43, was found dead in his Oceanside, Calif., home Wednesday morning of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Junior Seau's brain will be donated by his family for research into football-related head injuries. San Diego Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said he didn't know where the brain will be sent. ‘‘The Seau family really has, almost like Junior, a philanthropic approach, where they always desire to help others," Mitchell said in a phone interview Friday. ‘‘The purpose is not initially to discover anything about their son and what led to these tragic circumstances, but rather the betterment of other people and athletes down the road through anything that...

Police in Oceanside, Calif., say former NFL star Junior Seau has been found dead at his home. Police Lt. Karen Laser confirmed the death Wednesday but released no other details. Police responded to a report of a shooting at 10 a.m. at Seau's home on the coast north of San Diego. Seau was a standout linebacker with the University of Southern California before going to the San Diego Chargers, whom he led to the Super Bowl following the 1994 season. He remained with the Chargers until 2003 and went on to play with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots before retiring after...

FOXBOROUGH -- Matthew Slater, one of many Patriots working out at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, took a few minutes to reflect on former teammate Junior Seau, who died of an apparent suicide Wednesday in his Southern California home at age 43. "He was so full of life. Everybody keeps saying that, but he was. He was so full of life and it just comes as a total shock," Slater said. "Your heart really goes out to his family. You know, you saw his mom's response. No mother should have to bury her son, so I just think we're all in a state of shock right now. " ...

SAN DIEGO — Junior Seau's death has been ruled a suicide by the San Diego County medical examiner's office. An autopsy Thursday confirmed that the former NFL linebacker died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the medical examiner's office said. Officials said they were awaiting a decision by the family on whether to turn over Seau's brain to unidentified outside researchers for study. Seau died Wednesday in his home in suburban Oceanside. Police Chief Frank McCoy said Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest and lifesaving efforts were...

Junior Seau's ex-wife told the Union-Tribune San Diego that he texted her and each of their three children separate messages: ‘‘I love you" before dying in what police said was a suicide on Wednesday. Seau, 43, was found in his home dead of a gunshot wound. His passing has left the NFL in mourning and searching for answers.