NFL Standout Junior Seau Dead At 43

Police in Oceanside, Calif., say the death of former NFL star Junior Seau appears to be a suicide.

Seau, who was 43, was found shot to death at his home today.

Police responded to a report of a shooting at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Seau's home on the coast north of San Diego.

According to police, Seau's girlfriend reported finding him unconscious with a gunshot wound to the chest. A gun was found nearby.

His mother, Luisa Seau, was weeping uncontrollably as she appeared before reporters. She said, "I don't understand." She said her son had given no indication of a problem when she spoke to him by phone earlier in the week, and that he was "joking" with her.

Seau was a standout linebacker with USC before going to the San Diego Chargers and leading them to the Super Bowl after the 1994 season. The team says in a statement that everyone with the Chargers "is in complete shock and disbelief" over the news.

He remained with the Chargers until 2003 and went on to play with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots before retiring after the 2009 season.