Justin Skaggs
Encyclopedia
Justin Skaggs was an American football
player. He died at the age of 28 from Stage III Oligodendroglioma
, an inoperable brain cancer. He played college football
at Evangel University
. After graduating, he went undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft
, he was signed by the Washington Redskins
late in his rookie season, however was released the next year.
In his career, Skaggs played for the Redskins, San Francisco 49ers
, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
(NFL). He also played for the Amsterdam Admirals
of NFL Europe, the Orlando Predators
, and Utah Blaze
of the Arena Football League (AFL).
, and was later signed by the Washington Redskins
late in the 2001 season
. He was released in 2002
after playing in only one NFL game, though in 2002 he also played for the Amsterdam Admirals
in NFL Europe. In 2003
, he was invited to San Francisco 49ers
training camp, but was cut from the team. In 2004
, he went to training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, but was again cut.
for the 2005 season
. He had 33 receptions for 370 yards with three touchdowns in his first year.
His best season came in 2006
, when he moved to the expansion Utah Blaze
, becoming one of its inaugural players. For that year, he had 52 receptions for 665 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named the team's Iron Man
of the Year, he also had 34 tackles, (eight solo), and three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
, with four receiving and four rushing touchdowns, as well as 22 tackles. However, he began suffering from headaches. Thinking it was a problem with his neck, Skaggs visited a doctor in late May. MRI
s and CAT scans
located several tumors in the left lobe of his brain
, and doctors diagnosed him with stage III Oligodendroglioma
, an inoperable brain cancer, on June 1. In spite of the diagnosis, he showed up for a game three days later against the Colorado Crush
. Although he did not play, he inspired his team to an important 51-14 win that kept their playoff hopes alive.
. He underwent emergency surgery, but emerged unresponsive and on a ventilator. Family was gathered, and he was taken off life support on June 15, dying shortly afterward. His funeral, held at EnergySolutions Arena
on June 18, was attended by over 300, including AFL Commissioner C. David Baker
and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder
.
On March 29, 2008, the number 3 was retired by the Blaze in Skaggs' honor.
Skaggs was survived by his wife, Tara, and two children: Jake (born 2002) and Abbie (born 2004).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He died at the age of 28 from Stage III Oligodendroglioma
Oligodendroglioma
Oligodendrogliomas are a type of glioma that are believed to originate from the oligodendrocytes of the brain or from a glial precursor cell. They occur primarily in adults but are also found in children...
, an inoperable brain cancer. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Evangel University
Evangel University
Evangel University is the national university of arts, sciences and professions in Springfield, Missouri. Evangel College was renamed Evangel University on June 8, 1998. The campus sits on that were originally part of . The first President of Evangel was Klaude Kendrick who served from 1955-1958....
. After graduating, he went undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
, he was signed by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
late in his rookie season, however was released the next year.
In his career, Skaggs played for the Redskins, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He also played for the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
of NFL Europe, the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
, and Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
of the Arena Football League (AFL).
National Football League
Skaggs went undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
, and was later signed by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
late in the 2001 season
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
. He was released in 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
after playing in only one NFL game, though in 2002 he also played for the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
in NFL Europe. In 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
, he was invited to San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
training camp, but was cut from the team. In 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, he went to training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, but was again cut.
Arena Football League
After not being able to stay with a team in the NFL, Skaggs turned to the Arena Football League, where he was signed by the Orlando PredatorsOrlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
for the 2005 season
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
. He had 33 receptions for 370 yards with three touchdowns in his first year.
His best season came in 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
, when he moved to the expansion Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
, becoming one of its inaugural players. For that year, he had 52 receptions for 665 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named the team's Iron Man
Iron Man (disambiguation)
Iron Man is a Marvel comic book superhero.Iron Man, Ironman or Ironmen may also refer to:-Sports:*Ironman Triathlon, a long-distance triathlon**Ironman World Championship...
of the Year, he also had 34 tackles, (eight solo), and three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Illness
Skaggs did well in 20072007 Arena Football League season
The 2007 Arena Football League season was the 21st season of the Arena Football League. The regular season began play on March 1, 2007 and concluded on June 25...
, with four receiving and four rushing touchdowns, as well as 22 tackles. However, he began suffering from headaches. Thinking it was a problem with his neck, Skaggs visited a doctor in late May. MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
s and CAT scans
Computed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
located several tumors in the left lobe of his brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
, and doctors diagnosed him with stage III Oligodendroglioma
Oligodendroglioma
Oligodendrogliomas are a type of glioma that are believed to originate from the oligodendrocytes of the brain or from a glial precursor cell. They occur primarily in adults but are also found in children...
, an inoperable brain cancer, on June 1. In spite of the diagnosis, he showed up for a game three days later against the Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
. Although he did not play, he inspired his team to an important 51-14 win that kept their playoff hopes alive.
Death
He started suffering extremely severe headaches in the early morning on June 14, and was admitted to University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where doctors discovered an increase in intracranial pressureIntracranial pressure
Intracranial pressure is the pressure inside the skull and thus in the brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid . The body has various mechanisms by which it keeps the ICP stable, with CSF pressures varying by about 1 mmHg in normal adults through shifts in production and absorption of CSF...
. He underwent emergency surgery, but emerged unresponsive and on a ventilator. Family was gathered, and he was taken off life support on June 15, dying shortly afterward. His funeral, held at EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...
on June 18, was attended by over 300, including AFL Commissioner C. David Baker
C. David Baker
David Baker was the fourth commissioner of the Arena Football League. He started in the league as the owner of the Anaheim Piranhas, which folded after two seasons. One of his more imposing features is his size - 6 feet 9 and-a-half inches tall and 390 pounds. He was a power forward at UC-Irvine...
and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder
Daniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
.
On March 29, 2008, the number 3 was retired by the Blaze in Skaggs' honor.
Skaggs was survived by his wife, Tara, and two children: Jake (born 2002) and Abbie (born 2004).
See also
External links
- Profile at ArenaFan
- AFL profile at CBSSports.com
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers profile at ESPN.comESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....