He was a god in Boulder. If you watched college football in 1994, you remember the sheer physical dominance of Rashaan Salaam. He didn't just run through defenders; he seemed to glide past them with a combination of power and grace that won him the Heisman Trophy. But for years, fans have asked a painful, lingering question: how did Rashaan Salaam die? It wasn't on the field. It wasn't a sudden illness. It was a cold December night in 2016 in a park he loved, and the details are as heartbreaking as they are complicated.
The official cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. On December 5, 2016, a passerby found Salaam’s body in Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder, Colorado. He was only 42.
The Night in Eben G. Fine Park
Boulder isn't that big. For Salaam, the city was the site of his greatest triumphs, but by 2016, it had become the backdrop for a quiet, internal struggle. When the news broke that he was found in the park—a place just a short distance from the University of Colorado stadium where he became a legend—the sports world went numb.
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The Boulder County Coroner’s Office eventually released a multi-page autopsy report that confirmed what many feared. It was a suicide. They found a note, though the contents weren't fully blasted across the media, out of respect for his mother, Khalada, and his family. There was also a heavy presence of alcohol in his system, with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.25, which is three times the legal limit for driving.
It’s easy to look at the "how" and see just the mechanics of a tragedy. But the "why" is where the real story lives. People want to know how did Rashaan Salaam die because they want to understand how a man who had the world at his feet ended up in a park, alone, in the dark.
The CTE Question That Never Got a Final Answer
You can't talk about a former NFL player's suicide without talking about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It's the elephant in the room.
After his death, there was an immediate push to have his brain tested for the degenerative disease that has plagued so many of his peers, like Junior Seau or Dave Duerson. Here’s the catch: his family declined the testing. They are practicing Muslims, and the process of harvesting the brain for CTE research involves procedures that conflicted with their religious beliefs regarding the treatment of the body after death.
- We don't have medical proof he had CTE.
- We do have a history of heavy hits and "getting his bell rung" during a brutal era of football.
- His brother, Jabali Alii, has gone on record saying Rashaan showed symptoms: memory loss, depression, and mood swings.
Honestly, even without the slides under a microscope, the symptoms were there. He struggled. He had been through the highest highs—being a first-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears and rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie—and the lowest lows, including injuries that derailed his career and a self-admitted struggle with marijuana that he felt contributed to his exit from the NFL.
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The Weight of the Heisman
Winning the Heisman is a double-edged sword. It’s immortality, sure. But it’s also a massive weight. Salaam was the youngest player to ever win it at the time. He was 20. Think about that for a second. You’re 20 years old, you’re the best in the country, and suddenly everyone expects you to be a Hall of Famer.
When he wasn't, he felt like a failure. He once told reporters that he used to hide his Heisman trophy in a closet because he didn't feel like he earned the right to look at it anymore. That kind of psychological pressure is suffocating.
It wasn't just football. Salaam was a deeply sensitive guy. Friends described him as someone who would give you the shirt off his back even when he didn't have a second one to wear. He started the Rashaan Salaam Enhancement Program to help kids, trying to find purpose outside of the gridiron. But the transition from being a superstar to being "just a guy" is a cliff many athletes never learn how to climb down safely.
Financial and Personal Hurdles
By the time 2016 rolled around, things were tight. He had sold his Heisman ring. He had sold his Heisman trophy (though he later regretted it). He was living a relatively modest life in Superior, Colorado.
There’s this misconception that all NFL players are set for life. They aren't. Especially not the guys from the 90s who didn't have the massive contracts players get today. Salaam was working on various business ventures, but the consistency wasn't there. Financial stress doesn't cause suicide on its own, but it acts as a massive force multiplier for depression.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think there's one "smoking gun" when they ask how did Rashaan Salaam die. Was it the drugs? Was it the money? Was it the brain damage?
It was likely all of it. A "perfect storm."
When the coroner released the report, it showed he had THC in his system along with the alcohol. He had struggled with substance use off and on since his playing days. He was open about it, too. He didn't hide from his flaws, which makes the ending even more tragic. He was trying to be better. He was trying to get back on his feet.
The Role of Depression in Elite Athletes
We are finally starting to understand that physical toughness has nothing to do with mental health. Salaam was a warrior. He played through pain that would make most people quit. But you can't tackle depression. You can't outrun it.
His death served as a massive wake-up call for the University of Colorado and the NFL. It forced a conversation about what happens to these men when the lights go out. Who is checking on them when they aren't selling tickets anymore?
Remembering the Man, Not Just the Exit
If we only focus on how did Rashaan Salaam die, we miss who he was. He was a guy who loved his mother fiercely. He was a teammate who, despite his own struggles, was always the first to crack a joke in the locker room.
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In 1994, he rushed for 2,055 yards. He was only the fourth player in college history to break the 2,000-yard barrier. That season was magical. He ran with a violent elegance. Seeing him sprint 67 yards against Texas or tear through the Nebraska defense—that's how he should be remembered.
Actionable Steps for Awareness
Understanding Salaam’s story requires more than just reading an autopsy report. It requires looking at the systems that fail athletes and the resources available for mental health.
- Check on your "strong" friends. The people who seem like they have it all together are often the ones carrying the heaviest loads in silence.
- Support Post-Career Transitions. If you follow sports, support organizations like the NFL Trust or the After the Impact Fund, which provide mental health resources for retired players.
- Recognize the Signs. Depression doesn't always look like sadness. In men, it often looks like irritability, isolation, or increased substance use.
- De-stigmatize the Conversation. Talk about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s a tool that wasn't as widely publicized when Salaam was struggling.
The reality of how did Rashaan Salaam die is that it was a tragedy of isolation and internal pressure. He was a legend in a city that loved him, yet he felt alone enough to end his journey in a public park. The best way to honor his memory is to make sure the next "Rashaan" knows there is a way out that doesn't involve a gun.
Focus on the legacy of his 2,000-yard season and his kindness to fans. Use his story as a catalyst to talk about brain health and the heavy burden of expectation. We can’t change what happened in 2016, but we can change how we support the players who are still here, battling their own invisible opponents every single day.