CANTON, Ohio — Junior Seau’s daughter will not be commenting on her father entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the Aug. 8 inductions.
Citing previous policies on posthumous inductions, the Hall has barred Sydney Seau from making a speech. Seau, who committed suicide in 2012, is one of seven men being inducted this year.
In a statement from Joe Horrigan, the executive vice president and chief communications officer for the Hall, a 2010 policy was referenced on Friday.
“The policy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2010 regarding individuals enshrined posthumously provides for an expanded presenting video (longer than the videos of living inductees) followed by the traditional unveiling of the bronzed bust and no additional comments made from the podium,” Horrigan said.
The 2011 induction used such a format when former Los Angeles Rams star Les Richter was inducted posthumously.
In a New York Times story Friday, Sydney Seau said: “It’s frustrating because the induction is for my father and for the other players, but then to not be able to speak, it’s painful. I just want to give the speech he would have given.”
Seau, who played 20 seasons as one of the NFL’s best linebackers, shot and killed himself. Doctors later diagnosed Seau with traumatic brain injury they believed attributable to playing football, particuarly to hits to his head.
His family also has sued the NFL.
But Sydney Seau told the Times none of that was planned in her speech.
“It wasn’t going to be about this mess,” she said. “My speech was solely about him.”
The video presentation will last about five minutes, longer than the usual videos by about two minutes, the Hall said. Sydney Seau will appear in the video.
