Kosta Karageorge

Kosta Karageorge was a red-shirt senior defensive lineman. Credit: Courtesy of OSU

When former Ohio State football player and wrestler Kosta Karageorge was reported missing in Nov. 2014, a dark cloud was shadowed over the OSU-Michigan game that Saturday. That dark cloud soon formed a black hole that swallowed the hearts of Karageorge’s teammates.

The senior walk-on killed himself and was found in a dumpster near his house close to campus.

His family sent his brain to be examined by a brain bank in Massachusetts who continues to examine the brains of several former athletes post mortem.

A report from The New York Times on Tuesday stated that Karageorge had a protein on his brain that is consistent with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative disease found in those who suffer from repeated blows to the head. The article stated Karageorge suffered 15 concussions in his lifetime.

Neuropathologist Ann McKee examined Karageorge’s brain and found the protein Tau and diagnosed him with Stage 1 CTE. The report handed to the Karageorge family said that McKee discovered traces of “past microhemorrhaging in Karageorge’s prefrontal cortex” which often “leads to cognitive issues involving impulsivity, disinhibition, poor judgment and maybe even suicidal ideation,” according to McKee’s report outlined in the article.

Concussions have been a focus of discussion for the better part of three years. Former Buckeye Ray Griffin sued the Big Ten and the NCAA just over a week ago over the same issue.

The article stated that McKee said that it is impossible to distinguish if chronic head trauma is directly related to Karageorge’s suicide.

OSU offers suicide prevention resources. The Office of Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Services can be reached at 614-292-5766. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.