32:
500:
ranking first statistically in both run and pass defense, as well as total defense. His hard-hitting style translated into leading the team in tackles for four seasons and endeared him with
Philadelphia fans but often led to penalties and fines for some of his tackles. He led the Eagles in tackles
713:"Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease"
1529:
1589:
366:. Waters was regarded as one of the NFL's most aggressive players, serving as an integral part of one of the league's top defenses. On November 20, 2006, Waters died by suicide and was subsequently diagnosed with
622:
in contact sports, approached Waters' family and asked permission to have his brain tissue examined. After receiving permission, Nowinski had samples of Waters' brain tissue sent to neuropathologist Dr.
468:
led to a rule prohibiting defensive players from hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket; for a while, it was unofficially termed the "Andre Waters Rule". NFL broadcaster
545:
of the NFL as a coaching intern for training camp. Leavitt made Waters choose between South
Florida and the internship out of concern that Waters would miss too much preparation time with South Florida.
450:, he welcomed Waters' aggressive style as a fierce tackler and ferocious hitter, earning Waters a position in the starting lineup for the next eight years. He blossomed under defensive coordinator
661:
371:
1569:
1554:
740:
588:
1579:
343:
1539:
639:(CTE) and degenerated into that of an 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease, caused or hastened by the numerous concussions Waters sustained playing football.
1574:
1559:
906:
1614:
631:. Omalu believed, having examined the tissue, that Waters sustained brain damage from playing football: he went on to state that this led to Waters'
1549:
748:
1599:
854:
681:
565:
from 2002 to 2005 as defensive coordinator upon the football program's return from a 35-year hiatus. In 2006, Waters was defensive coordinator at
403:
1584:
1077:
1564:
823:
562:
1609:
1534:
50:
1544:
1344:
1233:
1159:
770:
399:
636:
367:
1046:
984:
497:
712:
554:
224:
887:
607:
1015:
566:
538:
236:
212:
797:
1594:
550:
530:
431:
218:
206:
230:
932:
632:
571:
628:
615:
496:
Waters served as part of the Eagles' defensive unit that was regarded as one of the league's all-time best, in
355:
933:"Minority coaching fellowship attracts record 83 participants; coordinators Lewis & Lynn grads of program"
910:
1604:
1152:
648:
541:
football program. He remained in that position until 1999. In 2000, Waters left South
Florida to join the
1455:
862:
689:
525:
After retiring as a player, Waters worked as a college football coach. In 1996, he joined the staff of
473:
notoriously nicknamed the Eagles defender "Dirty Waters". He scored a touchdown in 1989 when he took a
1524:
1519:
611:
596:
419:
383:
74:
1107:
Cantu, Robert C. (August 2007), "Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the
National Football League",
1168:
1137:
1085:
439:
423:
391:
347:
257:
167:
123:
1370:
717:
603:
322:
1226:
1145:
1124:
514:
351:
339:
181:
1116:
643:
478:
455:
301:
127:
774:
1467:
1202:
502:
486:
465:
447:
427:
415:
387:
363:
359:
189:
185:
175:
171:
31:
1054:
1356:
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1190:
1120:
592:
542:
526:
395:
148:
138:
91:
595:
where he was discovered by his girlfriend. He was buried at
Foreverglades Cemetery in
1513:
1408:
1318:
1283:
569:. Waters described his disappointment in not getting a full-time NFL coaching job to
558:
553:
in 2000. In 2001, Waters moved back to the college level as defensive backs coach at
992:
1479:
1443:
1389:
1337:
1325:
624:
587:
Waters died by suicide shortly after 1 a.m. on
November 20, 2006, according to the
549:
After his Rams internship, Waters returned to Tampa to be defensive coordinator at
510:
506:
482:
474:
470:
290:
279:
955:
513:
due to his contract ending. Waters finished his career playing for Ryan with the
1431:
1363:
1214:
534:
461:
458:
1382:
1264:
1257:
1245:
1023:
619:
576:
490:
451:
443:
1497:
435:
1128:
575:
reporter Phil
Sheridan. He remained very close to his former Eagles coach
1276:
338:(March 10, 1962 – November 20, 2006) was an American professional
394:. Waters received some attention in high school but ended up attending
561:
in his second stint as an NFL coaching intern. He later coached at
579:, whom Waters said he tried to emulate in his own coaching career.
1530:
Players of
American football with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
682:"The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)"
1141:
892:
Saint
Augustine's College vs. North Carolina Central University
533:
as defensive backs coach. The following year under head coach
741:"'Football killed him': The legacy of Pahokee's Andre Waters"
1590:
Players of
American football from Palm Beach County, Florida
635:. Omalu determined that Waters' brain tissue had developed
894:, Raleigh, NC: Saint Augustine's College, p. 20, 2002
882:
880:
824:"Revisiting the inaugural 1997 USF Bulls football roster"
662:
List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
591:, dying of a gunshot to the head. He was at his home in
1016:"FVSU assistant coach, ex-NFL player Andre Waters, dies"
1489:
1418:
1305:
1177:
956:"Football is officially back at St. Aug's and Shaw"
300:
289:
278:
269:
249:
198:
159:
154:
144:
134:
119:
114:
106:
98:
81:
61:
56:
46:
41:
618:and has since written a book about the dangers of
1078:"Expert Ties Ex-Player's Suicide to Brain Damage"
711:Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller (June 20, 2023).
1170:Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team (2007)
374:, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.
372:NFL players to be diagnosed after death with CTE
537:, Waters took the same position on the upstart
16:American football player and coach (1962–2006)
1153:
8:
1047:"Suicide of ex-Eagle Andre Waters hits hard"
848:
846:
844:
24:
1555:Fort Valley State Wildcats football coaches
978:
976:
1160:
1146:
1138:
509:in 156 games. In 1994, he was replaced by
30:
23:
985:"Former NFL player, St. Aug's coach dies"
258:Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team
1570:St. Augustine's Falcons football coaches
1580:High school football coaches in Florida
983:McDonald, Thomasi (November 20, 2006).
673:
1540:Alabama State Hornets football coaches
855:"The mysterious death of Andre Waters"
771:"Esteem Alum Andre Waters Passes Away"
614:, whose wrestling career was ended by
275:
1014:McPhail, Ayanna (November 20, 2006).
909:. Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from
907:"Where Are They Now: SS Andre Waters"
796:Kubatko, Roch Eric (March 28, 1996).
7:
1575:South Florida Bulls football coaches
1045:Sheridan, Phil (November 21, 2006).
853:Scheiber, Dave (December 11, 2006).
602:Shortly after Waters' death, former
589:Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
1560:Morgan State Bears football coaches
1121:10.1227/01.NEU.0000255514.73967.90
1076:Schwarz, Alan (January 18, 2007).
400:Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
102:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
14:
739:Habib, Hal (September 14, 2010).
370:(CTE). He is one of at least 345
1615:Sportspeople who died by suicide
954:Best, Bonitta (March 28, 2002).
905:Kravitz, Gary (August 4, 2004).
822:Knight, Joey (August 18, 2017).
637:chronic traumatic encephalopathy
505:, 1988 and 1991. He recorded 15
368:chronic traumatic encephalopathy
1550:Cheyney Wolves football players
390:in rural Florida, and attended
1600:Suicides by firearm in Florida
798:"Morgan hires ex-Eagle Waters"
642:Waters was portrayed by actor
250:Career highlights and awards
36:Waters with the Eagles in 1993
1:
557:. In 2002, Waters joined the
1585:People from Pahokee, Florida
686:Concussion Legacy Foundation
434:for an 89-yard game-winning
1565:Philadelphia Eagles players
551:Paul R. Wharton High School
1631:
1610:Pahokee High School alumni
1535:American football safeties
446:took over for Campbell in
442:as a rookie in 1984. When
418:, Waters was signed as an
1545:Arizona Cardinals players
572:The Philadelphia Inquirer
402:Waters was recognized as
329:
319:
315:
274:
265:
254:
245:
203:
164:
29:
629:University of Pittsburgh
616:post-concussion syndrome
612:Dr. Christopher Nowinski
356:National Football League
110:200 lb (91 kg)
21:American football player
935:. NFL. August 26, 2002
406:three straight years.
1051:Philadelphia Inquirer
995:on September 22, 2008
606:defensive tackle and
270:Career NFL statistics
1088:on December 11, 2008
1057:on November 29, 2006
1026:on February 28, 2007
888:"Coach Andre Waters"
859:St. Petersburg Times
597:Belle Glade, Florida
420:undrafted free agent
384:Belle Glade, Florida
336:Andre Maurice Waters
75:Belle Glade, Florida
57:Personal information
989:News & Observer
865:on January 11, 2007
751:on October 11, 2012
485:caused a fumble by
440:Washington Redskins
424:Philadelphia Eagles
410:Professional career
392:Pahokee High School
382:Waters was born in
348:Philadelphia Eagles
168:Philadelphia Eagles
26:
1595:Burials in Florida
1082:The New York Times
913:on August 21, 2004
718:The New York Times
396:Cheyney University
219:Paul R. Wharton HS
115:Career information
1507:
1506:
802:The Baltimore Sun
646:in the 2015 film
567:Fort Valley State
517:for two seasons.
515:Arizona Cardinals
352:Arizona Cardinals
342:player who was a
333:
332:
311:
310:
237:Fort Valley State
182:Arizona Cardinals
85:November 20, 2006
1622:
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1427:
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1404:
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1210:
1205:
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1186:
1171:
1162:
1155:
1148:
1139:
1132:
1131:
1104:
1098:
1097:
1095:
1093:
1084:. Archived from
1073:
1067:
1066:
1064:
1062:
1053:. Archived from
1042:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1022:. Archived from
1011:
1005:
1004:
1002:
1000:
991:. Archived from
980:
971:
970:
968:
966:
960:Triangle Tribune
951:
945:
944:
942:
940:
929:
923:
922:
920:
918:
902:
896:
895:
884:
875:
874:
872:
870:
861:. Archived from
850:
839:
838:
836:
834:
819:
813:
812:
810:
808:
793:
787:
786:
784:
782:
773:. Archived from
767:
761:
760:
758:
756:
747:. Archived from
736:
730:
729:
727:
725:
708:
702:
701:
699:
697:
688:. Archived from
678:
644:Richard T. Jones
479:William Frizzell
456:Los Angeles Rams
454:. His tackle of
430:. He returned a
320:Player stats at
276:
233:(DC) (2002–2005)
215:(DB) (1997–1999)
155:Career history
128:Pahokee, Florida
88:
71:
69:
34:
27:
1630:
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1089:
1075:
1074:
1070:
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1058:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1029:
1027:
1020:Macon Telegraph
1013:
1012:
1008:
998:
996:
982:
981:
974:
964:
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952:
948:
938:
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931:
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926:
916:
914:
904:
903:
899:
886:
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866:
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851:
842:
832:
830:
828:Tampa Bay Times
821:
820:
816:
806:
804:
795:
794:
790:
780:
778:
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745:Palm Beach Post
738:
737:
733:
723:
721:
710:
709:
705:
695:
693:
692:on July 2, 2023
680:
679:
675:
670:
658:
585:
563:St. Augustine's
523:
521:Coaching career
487:New York Giants
428:Marion Campbell
412:
388:extreme poverty
386:and grew up in
380:
231:St. Augustine's
90:
86:
73:
67:
65:
37:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1628:
1626:
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1587:
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1501:
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1133:
1115:(2): 223–225,
1099:
1068:
1037:
1006:
972:
946:
924:
897:
876:
840:
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788:
777:on May 7, 2018
762:
731:
703:
672:
671:
669:
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593:Tampa, Florida
584:
581:
543:St. Louis Rams
527:Stump Mitchell
522:
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408:
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227:(asst.) (2001)
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96:
95:
92:Tampa, Florida
89:(aged 44)
83:
79:
78:
72:March 10, 1962
63:
59:
58:
54:
53:
48:
44:
43:
39:
38:
35:
20:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1627:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1605:2006 suicides
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
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1583:
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1576:
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1424:
1423:
1421:
1419:Special teams
1417:
1410:
1406:
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1399:
1394:
1391:
1387:
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1375:
1372:
1371:Wojciechowicz
1368:
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1017:
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986:
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947:
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598:
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582:
580:
578:
574:
573:
568:
564:
560:
559:Detroit Lions
556:
555:Alabama State
552:
547:
544:
540:
539:South Florida
536:
532:
528:
520:
518:
516:
512:
508:
507:interceptions
504:
499:
494:
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467:
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280:Interceptions
277:
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268:
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259:
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248:
244:
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229:
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225:Alabama State
223:
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213:South Florida
211:
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55:
52:
49:
45:
40:
33:
28:
19:
1401:
1112:
1109:Neurosurgery
1108:
1102:
1090:. Retrieved
1086:the original
1081:
1071:
1059:. Retrieved
1055:the original
1050:
1040:
1028:. Retrieved
1024:the original
1019:
1009:
999:November 20,
997:. Retrieved
993:the original
988:
963:. Retrieved
959:
949:
937:. Retrieved
927:
915:. Retrieved
911:the original
900:
891:
867:. Retrieved
863:the original
858:
831:. Retrieved
827:
817:
805:. Retrieved
801:
791:
779:. Retrieved
775:the original
765:
753:. Retrieved
749:the original
744:
734:
722:. Retrieved
716:
706:
694:. Retrieved
690:the original
685:
676:
647:
641:
625:Bennet Omalu
601:
586:
570:
548:
531:Morgan State
524:
511:Mike Zordich
495:
489:quarterback
483:Reggie White
471:Dan Dierdorf
438:against the
413:
381:
335:
334:
321:
207:Morgan State
160:As a player:
120:High school:
87:(2006-11-20)
25:Andre Waters
18:
1525:2006 deaths
1520:1962 births
620:concussions
535:Jim Leavitt
462:Jim Everett
459:quarterback
426:head coach
358:(NFL) from
239:(DC) (2006)
221:(DC) (2000)
209:(DB) (1996)
199:As a coach:
1514:Categories
1227:Carmichael
668:References
649:Concussion
633:depression
577:Buddy Ryan
491:Phil Simms
452:Bud Carson
444:Buddy Ryan
378:Early life
145:Undrafted:
68:1962-03-10
1498:Andy Reid
1468:Westbrook
1203:Van Buren
755:March 18,
610:wrestler
501:in 1986,
436:touchdown
47:Position:
1456:T. Brown
1357:Bednarik
1338:J. Brown
1296:Bednarik
1234:McDonald
1129:17762733
656:See also
404:All-PSAC
346:for the
340:football
135:College:
1444:Landeta
1409:Dawkins
1390:Vincent
1345:Johnson
1319:Simmons
1306:Defense
1284:Andrews
1178:Offense
724:July 2,
696:July 2,
627:at the
604:Harvard
475:lateral
432:kickoff
354:of the
139:Cheyney
124:Pahokee
107:Weight:
99:Height:
1480:Papale
1402:Waters
1364:Joyner
1265:Runyan
1258:Thomas
1191:McNabb
1127:
1092:May 5,
1061:May 6,
1030:May 6,
965:May 6,
939:May 6,
917:May 6,
869:May 6,
833:May 6,
807:May 6,
781:May 6,
481:after
344:safety
293:yards:
94:, U.S.
77:, U.S.
51:Safety
42:No. 20
1490:Coach
1432:Akers
1383:Allen
1326:White
1246:Pihos
1215:Byars
583:Death
477:from
302:Sacks
82:Died:
62:Born:
1125:PMID
1094:2018
1063:2018
1032:2018
1001:2006
967:2018
941:2018
919:2018
871:2018
835:2018
809:2018
783:2018
757:2013
726:2023
698:2023
503:1987
498:1991
466:1988
448:1986
416:1984
364:1995
360:1984
350:and
190:1995
186:1994
176:1993
172:1984
149:1984
1277:Key
1117:doi
608:WWE
529:at
464:in
422:by
414:In
398:At
362:to
323:PFR
307:3.5
296:164
291:INT
1516::
1474:ST
1462:PR
1450:KR
1377:CB
1351:LB
1332:DT
1313:DE
1240:TE
1221:WR
1209:FB
1197:RB
1185:QB
1123:,
1113:61
1111:,
1080:.
1049:.
1018:.
987:.
975:^
958:.
890:,
879:^
857:.
843:^
826:.
800:.
743:.
715:.
684:.
652:.
599:.
493:.
285:15
1438:P
1426:K
1396:S
1290:C
1271:G
1252:T
1161:e
1154:t
1147:v
1119::
1096:.
1065:.
1034:.
1003:.
969:.
943:.
921:.
873:.
837:.
811:.
785:.
759:.
728:.
700:.
304::
282::
192:)
188:–
184:(
178:)
174:–
170:(
130:)
126:(
70:)
66:(
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