Who was former San Francisco 49ers player Greg Clark and how did he die?
ON July 10, 2021, it was reported that former San Francisco 49ers tight end Greg Clark had unexpectedly died. Clark was just 49-years-old at the time of his passing. Clark was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was recruited to Stanford by Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh after demonstrating impressive blocking ability. During his professional career, he played for San Francisco and hauled in 92 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns in 55 games. After Clark retired, he reportedly went into the real estate business. He lived in the East Bay with his wife of 20 years, Carrie. The couple had one son, Jayden, whos played linebacker at Southern Utah since 2018. Clarks cause of death has not been reported. His family released a statement indicating that they would participate in brain research to explore whether or not Clark had CTE. 2 Greg Clark unexpectedly passed away on July 10, 2021 Credit: Getty  It is with great sadness we announce the unexpected passing of Greg Clark, 49, cherished husband, father, son, brother and friend to so many," they wrote. Greg was a dedicated family man who was successful at everything he did, from his academic and athletic achievements as a Stanford scholar-athlete to his role as a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, to the creation of a successful real estate platform throughout the Bay Area. Most importantly, he was a cherished and dedicated husband to his wife of 23 years. His recent suffering from CTE symptoms cannot extinguish the breadth and depth of his impact on us and others and we are forever grateful for the time we have had with him. It is our hope that through further research we can gain more knowledge surrounding CTE.  The 49ers issued a statement expressing how they were deeply saddened to learn of Clarks death, adding: Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.  Former 49ers quarterback Steve Young told Mercury News: ''He was a phenomenal human being, with a burgeoning family, and I just feel terrible about the suffering he must have felt.'' He added: ''Greg was a great player. He was tough. A great teammate and a great 49er. ''And hes gone way too early. Its just devastating.'' Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions and repeated blows to the head, describes the Alzheimers Association. The symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidality, parkinsonism, and, eventually, progressive dementia.