Date of birth | March 14, 1943 |
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Place of birth | San Mateo, California, U.S. |
Date of death | June 18, 2012 | (aged 69)
Place of death | San Mateo, California, U.S. |
Career information | |
Position(s) | Guard |
US college | San Diego State University |
NFL draft |
1966 / Round: 11 / Pick 168 (By the Green Bay Packers) |
Career history | |
As player | |
1966–1970 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1972–1973 | San Diego Chargers |
Career stats | |
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Ralph Richard Wenzel (March 14, 1943 – June 18, 2012) was a professional American football player who played guard for seven seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers. [1]
Wenzel's name gained notoriety in late 2009, when Wenzel's wife, Dr. Eleanor Perfetto, testified on Wenzel's dementia. [2] Perfetto testified that Wenzel's football career probably had a causal effect with his dementia.
Wenzel was later confirmed to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE). [3] He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head. [4] [5]