Former 49er found homeless on streets of L.A.

VDSF · 2012-11-16T08:28:10-08:00

After finishing nine seasons with the NFL some might expect Terry Tautolo to be living the high life. Few might expect the 58-year-old to instead be living beneath a Los Angeles freeway, homeless, while feared to be suffering a lasting affect by the professional sport: Brain damage. Today the former linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins appears frail though as his former 49ers roommate George Visger says, still 'very proud.' 'You look at him and, the teeth missing, the eyes sunken in, but you ask him, and, "Oh, I don't have any issues," Mr Visger told CBS Sacramento. Mr Visger, who played alongside Mr Tautolo until his own career was ended early due to a series of concussions, successfully sued the NFL for workers compensation after a gruelling battle. He has had nine brain surgeries since, pointing to a hidden tube running through the side of his head to a pump in one instance, and says he could require more. 'None of us want to ask for help, but there's some things that he's earned,' Mr Visger said of his old friend whom he's since encouraged to be tested for similar injuries. Mr Tautolo however has acknowledged that a similar blow to his own head, making him what he called 'a paper head,' is what ended his career. He says he never reported the injury to the NFL, though it was enough to make him quit, fearing he could end up paralyzed if hit just one more time. Link...

Nov 16, 2012 at 9:25 AM

NeeJ49er
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Posts: 9,580

I remember him , damn ...thats messed up man

Nov 16, 2012 at 9:29 AM

mcbaes72
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Posts: 9,679

Ugh, that sucks. What happened to all the money he made? Family, relatives, even friends...no one would help him?

Nov 16, 2012 at 10:48 AM

VDSF
Veteran
Posts: 5,971

Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Ugh, that sucks. What happened to all the money he made? Family, relatives, even friends...no one would help him?

Meds & Drugs to help with the pain?

Nov 16, 2012 at 12:17 PM

TheXFactor
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Posts: 25,990

damn, hope he gets the help he needs

Nov 16, 2012 at 12:18 PM

English
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Posts: 41,397

With all the money swilling round in the NFL and the ludicrous money paid to today's stars, this is very sad.

Nov 16, 2012 at 12:34 PM

nevadalove9ers2
Member
Posts: 979

Originally posted by English:
With all the money swilling round in the NFL and the ludicrous money paid to today's stars, this is very sad.

This!!

Nov 16, 2012 at 12:36 PM

RnDm11
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Posts: 19

i was expecting Jose Cortez...

Nov 16, 2012 at 1:20 PM

JimA49ers
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Posts: 5,845

Originally posted by Marsh:
Originally posted by RnDm11:
i was expecting Jose Cortez...

Looked at that real quick, and thought he was working at a laundromat.

Nov 16, 2012 at 2:25 PM

blm7754
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Posts: 2,785

I thought NFL retirees received retirement benefits? I've heard these benefits are related by years in the league. 9 years is above average. I would think he'd be gettig a decent stipend... at least enough to not be homeless.

Anybody know more about this?

Nov 16, 2012 at 2:27 PM

#10

blm7754
Veteran
Posts: 2,785

Originally posted by VDSF:

Originally posted by mcbaes72:
Ugh, that sucks. What happened to all the money he made? Family, relatives, even friends...no one would help him?

Meds & Drugs to help with the pain?

Maybe he's got an account full of cash somewhere that he has forgotten about... loss of memory due to brain injury.

Nov 16, 2012 at 2:28 PM

#11

Cjez
Hall of Fame
Posts: 170,536

Originally posted by Marsh:

Originally posted by RnDm11:
i was expecting Jose Cortez...

wtf? is that a Probowl jersey??

Nov 16, 2012 at 2:40 PM

#12

Harkonnenzombie
Veteran
Posts: 104

Looks like a euro nfl uni

Originally posted by ChazBoner:
Originally posted by Marsh:
Originally posted by RnDm11:
i was expecting Jose Cortez...

wtf? is that a Probowl jersey??

Nov 16, 2012 at 3:11 PM

#13

Chico
Veteran
Posts: 2,546

Isn't it true that 75% of Pro athletes file Bankruptcy after their career is over? Too many limo rides to the laundry mat with their possey!

As glorious as their lives may seem, they really do make a lot of sacrifices and pay the price once their careers are over!

The NFL is the most physically demanding sport out there and they are one of the wealthiest sports. They MUST take care of the players that helped make them rich!

Nov 16, 2012 at 4:44 PM

#14

LasVegasWally
Veteran
Posts: 24,858

Very, very sad.

With all the $$$ the NFL has and all the educated people running it - you'd think [hope] they'd be smart enough to do something about this.

Like take 1% of all players salaries yearly and put into a slush fund so they can help each other.