Junior Seau 1969-2012

          The numbers that the late Junior Seau accumulated over his career are quantifiable; his overall impact on San Diego can not be measured so easily.

            Both the football world and the rest of the world lost Seau at the age of 43. Police are investigating his death and the details are still not certain.

            Luisa and Tiaina Seau Sr. lost a son, and the city of San Diego lost an icon.

In his time as a San Diego Charger, Junior Seau played the game at the pace of the lightning that streaked across his helmet for 12 years. As soon as Seau set foot on Jack Murphy Stadium, he became the identity of a defense, and the face of football in southern California.

            Seau was a laid back star off the field that played like his hair was on fire during games. He brought back star power to a franchise that existed in a black hole since the departure of Kellen Winslow in the late 80s.

            There was something different about Seau’s game. Not just the fact that after every tackle there was an electric celebration, but the technique in his takedowns was an art form in its own right.

            His tackles consisted of more than just lowering a shoulder towards the ball carrier and hoping the hit would be enough to make the play. All 1,849 tackles featured Seau’s arms ensnaring his prey before pulling them towards the turf.

            If the battle for football supremacy in California was won by Young and Rice, Seau played the role of Oedipus. Seau’s Chargers were on the losing end of a 49-26 score against the man who finally got the monkey off his back.

            Sure Seau eventually left the Chargers in 2003 for the Miami Dolphins. And yes he “graduated” in 2006 only to go back for his doctorate in Super Bowl rings at the Belichickian School of wins in New England. Still, Seau remained on of San Diego's favorite sons.

Seau never got that Super Bowl ring that separates the great from the extraordinary. Even after attending grad school in New England, Seau was on that Patriots team that had their dreams of perfection dashed by the New York Giants in 2007. Even without a ring, Seau’s name will join the 125 Hall of Famers in 2015.

Despite all of that, Seau’s heart and legacy remains in San Diego. Not only for his production as a Charger, but also for his dominance in the community.     

In 1992, number 55 started up the Junior Seau Foundation to empower the youth of California faced with adversity. Seau’s foundation has been around by more than 20 years and has rewarded individuals like Bill Walton who have impacted San Diego for the better.

Sadly, Seau will not be remembered for his volunteer efforts or his play on the field. His death, for now will be synonymous with the downfall of the NFL.

Concussions and bounty gate have combined to put the future of the NFL in question and effectively overshadowed Seau’s death. The game that Seau loved has abandoned the technique he applied to every tackle and has turned into arm tackles and images of players being carted off the field.

The legacy of Junior Seau should not be synonymous with the potential downfall of the NFL. Unfortunately, Seau has gone from a person to a talking point in less than 24 hours. Before Luisa has even buried her son, the talking heads are addressing the repercussions of their favorite collision sport.

What happens to the NFL after Seau is still up in the air, yet Seau’s impact on and off the field will forever leave flashes of lightning in the skyline of San Diego.