Chris Henry cause of death: Chris Henry was a star-in-the-making after the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft. However, just five seasons into his career with the Bengals, he passed away.
After falling out of a pickup truck in what authorities said was a domestic dispute with his then-fiancee Loleini Tonga, the Bengals wideout died on Dec. 17, 2009. Henry’s death resulted from blunt force trauma to his head, according to an autopsy.
In his football career, Henry had repeatedly taken hits to his head, resulting in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). An autopsy, however, is the only way to definitively diagnose CTE.
When Henry died, he was still an active NFL player, making him the first NFL player to die and be diagnosed with CTE.
When Tonga spoke to reporters a week after Henry’s death, he said that he did jump off the truck but was not trying to hurt himself. Moreover, she said Henry might have been scared because he saw someone calling the police, and thought he would land safely.
During the incident, Henry was away from the Bengals after being placed on injured reserve with a broken forearm that ended his season.
Tonga and Henry had three children: two boys named Chris Jr. and DeMarcus, and a daughter named Seini.
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Chris Henry’s NFL career and off-field troubles
In 2005, the Cincinnati Bengals selected wide receiver Chris Henry in the third round of the NFL draft. The wideout signed a five-year contract with the franchise that included a $865,000 signing bonus.
During his five seasons with the Bengals, Henry caught 119 passes for 1,826 yards and 21 touchdowns.
After Cincinnati selected him in the draft, Henry experienced some off-field problems. He was arrested five times, resulting in five NFL suspensions.
Henry’s NFL career ended in Dec. 2009 after he fell off the back of a pickup truck about eight miles northwest of downtown Charlotte.
