The death of Junior Seau on Tuesday didn't just affect his immediate family and the teams he played for, it affected fans of football in general, as Seau was one of the most fun players to watch in recent memory. He spent the vast majority of his career in the AFC West, so the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos are very familiar with Seau. He was one of the most respected players in the NFL, and most players considered him a friend, as he called everyone "Buddy."
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli released a statement on Wednesday night regarding Seau's death:
I'm shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Junior Seau. Junior was a phenomenal football player, but more importantly a great man who I considered a friend. He was a player that always reminded us that football should be fun and he was a true joy to be around. This is a tremendous loss for all of those who were blessed to cross his path. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
The Oakland Raiders as an organization released the following statement on Wednesday as well:
We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Junior Seau. Junior's great passion, intensity and love for the game were evident every time he stepped on the football field. He was a formidable competitor who left an indelible mark on the game of football. We extend our most sincere condolences to his family and the Charger organization.
Former Denver Broncos quarterback and current general manager John Elway played against Seau for many seasons and released a statement on his death:
"I had the pleasure of playing against Junior for many years," Elway said via Twitter. "He played the game the way it was meant to be played. We shared a lot of laughs from our AFC West battles when I saw Junior before he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in November.
"Junior was a true competitor and a special player. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Seau family."
Current Broncos head coach John Fox coached Seau while he was with the Chargers from 1992-93 as the Chargers linebackers coach and released a statement:
"Junior was an incredible leader who played with great passion. Coaching on a defense that included him has been one of the most memorable experiences of my career. We had a great relationship. I have an enormous amount of respect for him as a player and a person.
"I offer my sympathies to his family."
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning entered the NFL in 1998 and had the chance to play against Seau in a handful of games and remembers him as a passionate friend:
"To me, Junior had a quality of making the people around him feel special and comfortable. It didn't matter what environment he was in-he had just a great energy and an aura about him that people gravitated to. That's why he was such a great leader. I always felt good being around him. He was truly a one-of-a-kind football player and a one-of-a-kind person just because of his passion."
Head over to Bolts From The Blue, where fans are remembering the legendary former San Diego Chargers linebacker.
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