Former Patriots Linebacker Junior Seau Found Dead

Various news outlets are reporting that former New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, 43, has been found dead inside his California home. The story was first reported on TMZ here, where you can follow a timeline of updates today as the news unfolded.

Officials have said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

The following statement was issued just before 4:30 p.m. by the New England Patriots:

"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.”