Was Tracy Scroggins Married? All About The Ex-NFL Pro’s Family, Children, And Long Battle With CTE

Tracy Scroggins, the retired NFL standout from the Detroit Lions, is no more. The pro footballer, who made history with 60.5 career sacks as the Lions’ defensive end and linebacker, passed away on February 9, 2026, at the age of 56. Team Lions officially announced his passing on Monday evening. While the exact cause of his death hasn’t been officially revealed, it’s believed that Scroggins wore away after years of health struggles with multiple injuries and a chronic condition. 

The bereaved family of Tracy Scroggins described him as a “loving father” and praised him for his courage and unyielding strength, which inspired everyone around him. While Scroggins stayed largely out of the media spotlight, the news of his death has renewed fans’ curiosity about the late NFL star’s personal life. Here’s everything we know about Scroggins’ surviving family and his years of health battle.

Tracy Scroggins’ family confirms his death at 56

On Monday, February 9, 2026, Tracy Scroggins’ bereaved family released a statement confirming the ex-NFL pro’s death. While the Detroit Lions have not released a specific cause of Tracy Scroggins’ death, his family reportedly attributed his untimely demise to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In a statement released to TMZ, the family shared:

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Tracy Scroggins. Tracy was a devoted father, cherished family member, and loyal friend whose life was marked by remarkable strength and perseverance. While many knew him for his career as a professional football player in the NFL, those closest to him knew him as a kind-hearted and generous man who cared deeply for his family and friends.”

Scroggins’ family shared that the NFL star was more than a footballer. He was a loving family man, a “devoted father”, and a loyal friend who was deeply cherished for his strength and perseverance. The family added that he spent every moment of his retirement courageously battling the devastating effects of CTE, following his 10-year NFL career. The statement continued:

“Playing in the NFL gave Tracy the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream and to rise from poverty. However, unfortunately, the NFL was also ultimately the cause of his untimely demise. Tracy spent every moment of retirement courageously battling the devastating effects of CTE. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace.”

Image: TMZ

What is known about Tracy Scroggins’ wife and kids

Tracy Scroggins was much more than a celebrated quarterback. He was a proud father, and his family described him as deeply devoted to his children. While he largely kept his personal life out of the public eye during and after his professional football days, his former teammates and those close to him have often emphasised that fatherhood became a central part of his identity after football. However, it’s unknown how many children he had, nor is there any information about their names or ages.

In 2016, Scroggins spoke about his then-fiancée, Michelle Burke. While there is little to no information about whether they later married, The Detroit News reported at the time that they were supposed to marry on June 4, 2016. They had been dating for three years, and Michelle was well aware of his physical and psychological distress. Michelle herself had spoken about Tracy’s worsening condition, especially after his brain trauma, which only worsened over time. While the ex-Lions QB couldn’t hold a job because of his condition, friends and close ones often said that he and Michelle had built a steady relationship based on honesty, patience, and mutual care.

Tracy Scroggins’ long battle with CTE and his lawsuit against the NFL

Over ten seasons of professional football, Scroggins broke records with his on-field performance. However, behind the scenes, his health was drastically wearing away, and his condition only worsened post-retirement. Nearly two decades after his retirement, Tracy filed a lawsuit against the NFL in 2016, alleging that repeated head trauma caused him to suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

For those wondering what CTE is, it’s a degenerative brain disease that emerges from repeated trauma to the head over time, especially after multiplpe concussions and sub-concussive blows. It’s a common condition among athletes from contact sports, such as football, boxing, and hockey, and military veterans who get exposed to blast-related head trauma.

After filing his lawsuit, Tracy Scroggins spoke openly about years of insomnia, chronic pain, mood swings, and social withdrawal. He said his sleep issues began before the 1997 season but were only diagnosed after retirement. In a 2016 interview, he also shared that limited medical guidance during his playing days left lasting physical damage, including a permanently disfigured finger. The Detroit News quoted him as saying:

“Today’s players, they have the option — because of the knowledge and the awareness and the attention that’s been brought to long-term effects of playing — to choose whether or not they want to continue to play. That option wasn’t given to us.”

According to the lawsuit, Scroggins had been given a preliminary diagnosis of CTE during his NFL years, but no conclusive testing had been completed during the tenure. In 2016, the late footballer shared that he suffered form severe insomnia, and the sleep problems emerged around the 1997 season. With a lack of guidance, he majorly relied on over-the-top remedoes. Tracy said:

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I just started taking NyQuil to go to sleep.”

In interviews, Scroggins described years of insomnia, chronic pain, memory issues, mood changes, and social withdrawal. He said he struggled with back and knee injuries, nerve damage, tremors, and emotional instability. These conditions made it nearly impossible to hold a steady job after his retirement in 2001. He once reflected on his sports injuries and said:

“After playing 10 years in the National Football League, anything you’ve suffered gets worse as years go by. Trust me.”

Remembering Tracy Scroggins’ NFL legacy

Tracy Scroggins was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1992, during the season’s second round. A Tulsa native, he was actively involved with the NFL for 10 seasons, playing 142 games for Detroit, recording 321 tackles and 60.5 sacks. Back then, he was one of the most porductive pass rushers in the history of the franchise, helping lead the Lions to five playoff appearances. In 1997, Scroggins retired from the NFL. Even after retirement, he continued to be recognised for his valuable contributions to professional football. In 2002, he was inducted into the Coffeyville Community College Lettermen’s Hall of Fame, followed by his inclusion in the Checotah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

Although his family suspects CTE-related complications, the exact cause of Scroggins’ death cannot be confirmed without a neuropathological autopsy. CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death through such an examination of the brain. At this time, it is unknown whether Scroggins’ family plans to pursue posthumous testing. Tracy’s family has informed that his funeral service will be held in his hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, on February 27, 2026.

With his passing, Tracy Scroggins leaves behind more than just a record of sacks and tackles. His legacy leaves a painful reminder how professional football could cost a player’s health in the long run.

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