PETALUMA , Calif., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Former NFL quarterback and San Diego State standout Jesse Freitas was found dead in his car on Sunday after years of struggling with a mental illness. He was 63.
Freitas was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 1974 draft and played for two seasons as backup to Hall of Famer Dan Fouts.
Local police described Freitas' body as "lying fully clothed in the back seat of the vehicle on his back with his left arm across his chest as if he had been laying down to take a nap or rest" when it was discovered just prior to 5 p.m. Sunday. The specific time and nature of Freitas' death remain unknown, although police do not suspect foul play.
Because Freitas played the game at a time when quarterbacks were less protected, both by equipment and rules, and due to his history of depression and other mental illnesses, Freitas' family has agreed to let investigators test his brain for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is common among athletes who endure repeated head trauma, such as hockey players, boxers and football players. Its symptoms, including depression and unstable emotions, are consistent with Freitas' reported struggles late in life.
"He struggled with bipolar stuff, and got into bad situations," Freitas' brother James described to the San Diego Union-Times.
When asked if he recalled any specific hard hits that may have forever damaged Freitas, James didn't isolate a lone incident, but noted, "It was the NFL in the 1970s. You always got your bell rung," James said.
