Los Angeles (AFP) - Super Bowl-winning defensive end Charles "Bubba" Smith was suffering from the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death in 2011, a report revealed on Tuesday.
Smith, who forged a successful acting career following his playing days, appearing in the hit "Police Academy" movies, is among 90 former NFL players found to have CTE, the Concussion Legacy Foundation reported on its website.
Researchers at Boston University who studied Smith's brain said the player showed symptoms of suffering from Stage 3 (out of 4) CTE, a severe level of the condition.