A 911 call was placed at 10 a.m. PT by Seau's girlfriend. She reportedly discovered Seau bleeding from the chest of an apparent gunshot wound. According to TMZ, she states that she went to the gym around 7:45 a.m. PT, at which point Seau was still alive.
Police said that they are investigating this as a suicide case. We'll continue to keep you up to date here at NESN.com as more details emerge.
5:05 p.m.: Miami Dolphins CEO Mike Dee issued the following statement regarding Seau's death:
"We are stunned and saddened at the passing of Junior Seau. During his time with the Dolphins he made a unique contribution to the team and the South Florida community.
"Junior was a fierce competitor whose passion and work ethic lifted his teammates to greater heights. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious and he passed that on to everyone who was around him. He loved the game so much, and no one played with more sheer joy.
"Beyond his accomplishments on the field, though, he was as well known for his charitable accomplishments to help those less fortunate than himself, especially kids. Whether it was in San Diego, South Florida, New England or everywhere else in between, Junior loved putting a smile on a child’s face during his “Shop with a Jock” program or during one of his countless school visits. He made a difference to so many people in so many places.
"Junior was one-of-a-kind. The league will never see anyone like him again. He will be missed, and on behalf of the Miami Dolphins we want to extend our condolences to his family."
4:48 p.m.: Tedy Bruschi dropped by ESPN's SportsCenter to talk about his relationship with Seau, and he too spoke of "Buddy," the term frequently used by Seau.
Bruschi said he watched Seau when he was young and admired him. Bruschi also talked about what it was like to play alongside Seau, saying that players frequently talked about the veteran's constant energy.
Bruschi said the Patriots wanted to win Super Bowl XLII — which they lost to the Giants — "for junior." He discussed the disappointment he had when the defense was unable to stop Eli Manning and the Giants offense, saying it was opportunity to put a bow on a Hall of Fame career.
4:42 p.m.: Steve Young, who Seau frequently had to go after while with the Chargers, weighed in on Seau, calling him "inspiring."
4:26 p.m.: Pastor Miles McPherson is speaking outside Seau's home. Not only is he a pastor, but he played for the Chargers from 1982-1985. He told everyone to hug your loved ones, and to forgive and forget when it comes to minor issues.
Undoubtedly, Seau's death is a reminder of how quick and how unexpected tragedy can strike.
4:22 p.m.: Marcellus Wiley, who played for two seasons with Seau, just appeared on ESPN and was visibly emotional. Like Brown, he referred to Seau as "Buddy."
4:10 p.m.: The Patriots have issued a statement regarding Seau's death, which can be seen below.
"We were shocked to hear of the initial reports regarding Junior Seau earlier today and are deeply saddened by the news of his death. We were fortunate to have had Junior join the Patriots in 2006 and are thankful for his many contributions to the team over the next four years. He had a legendary NFL career and his unrivaled passion for the game quickly made him a fan favorite here in New England. This is a sad day for the entire Patriots organization, our coaches and his many Patriots teammates. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his many friends who will mourn this loss."
4:08 p.m.: The family has come back outside of Seau's San Diego home, embracing each other out front.
4:00 p.m.: Seau's mother's words are still the most crushing of the day.
"Take me. Leave my son alone," she screamed while addressing a crowd outside of Seau's San Diego home.
3:58 p.m.: Seau's Facebook fan page is receiving more and more posts by the second, as fans everywhere are looking to pay tribute to a legend.
3:55 p.m.: Troy Brown is currently appearing on ESPN. When asked the first thing that comes to mind when he hears Junior's name, Brown said, "Buddy, Buddy." According to Brown, those were always the first words out of Seau's mouth.
3:53 p.m.: The police department and fire department performed life-saving efforts on Seau upon their arrival, but they were unsuccessful in reviving the 43-year-old.
A gun was found near the body, therefore leading to the suicide investigation.
Police stated that the body was discovered at around 9:30 this morning.
3:52 p.m.: While it's way too early to start focusing on such, you can bet that the topic of head trauma will undoubtedly surface in the coming weeks. There's no evidence to suggest Seau suffered from any mental issues as a result of his playing days, but it's an inevitable question nowadays.
3:47 p.m.: Seau had a very decorated NFL career. He'll go down as a legend, and as one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game.
Click here to check out photos from Seau's fantastic NFL career.
3:44 p.m.: Prior to Seau's family walking away, his sister asked that the media respect their wishes during this difficult time.
3:42 p.m.: The San Diego Chargers have released a statement regarding Seau's death. Here it is:
"Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family."
3:40 p.m.: Seau was not only a special player, but a special person who was held in high regard across the football world.
Click here to read Jeff Howe's article on Seau's free spirit.
3:35 p.m.: We'll be receiving more news from police soon, as they'll take questions as part of a news conference. They have indicated, though, that Seau was found by his girlfriend, and he has died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Police Chief Frank McCoy also indicate that they are investigating what appears to be a suicide.
3:30 p.m.: It's an emotional scene outside Junior Seau's home right now, with his family, friends, neighbors and fans gathering. According to TMZ, they are now engaging in prayer.
3:27 p.m.: Junior Seau's mother just spoke, asking why someone would take her son. She asked for them to take her rather than Junior, which is not only sad but goes against reports that his death was a suicide.
3:25 p.m. ET: Junior Seau has been found dead at his home, marking a very sad day in the world of football.
The police are ready to speak about the incident. We'll keep you up to date on this tragic event.
