Seau's death ruled a suicide

The San Diego County medical examiner's office on Thursday ruled that the death of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was a suicide, CNN reported.

Seau died Wednesday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Toxicology results that might provide clues to factors leading to the death could take weeks to complete, Sarah Gordon of the medical examiner's office told CNN.

There has been speculation since Seau was found dead at his Oceanside, Calif., home that it was a suicide.

There also has been speculation whether the blows he took to the head during his 20-year pro career may have somehow contributed to Seau's decision to take his own life.

Seau exhibited no evidence that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by multiple concussions.

However, Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who was the first to identify chronic brain damage as a factor in the deaths of some NFL players, traveled to San Diego on Thursday to participate in the autopsy, ESPN.com reported.

The family said it had received calls from researchers asking to study his brain.

The medical examiner's office also issued a statement saying it would wait for a family decision regarding an examination of Seau's brain.

The office told CNN a final autopsy report may not be completed for 90 days.