The family of former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips will donate his brain to chronic traumatic encephalopathy researchers at Boston University, attorney Dan Chamberlain told USA Today Sports.
Phillips, 40, was found unresponsive at Kern Valley State Prison in California and died at a hospital early Wednesday. The Kern County coroner's office on Friday ruled his death a suicide. He had been awaiting a trial that could have brought him the death penalty.
Chamberlain, who is representing Phillips' family and who represented him in a lawsuit brought by retired players against the NFL over concussions, told USA Today Sports that the family hopes a study of Phillips' brain will provide answers.