Cause Of Death Announced For 20-Year-Old College Soccer Star

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 2:01 PM ET

Roughly three months ago, DePaul University soccer player Chase Stegall passed away. He was just 20 years old.

Stegall, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and CFL star Milt Stegall, was found dead in his dorm on DePaul’s campus on June 2. The former All-Region midfielder from Woodward Academy appeared in 17 games during his sophomore season at DePaul.

"We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Chase Stegall, a cherished member of our community, dedicated teammate and kind-hearted friend," DePaul director of athletics DeWayne Peevy said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase's family, friends, teammates and all who loved him. In the coming days, we will support Chase's family and teammates through this devastating time. His loss will be deeply felt across our entire Athletics and university family and his memory will forever be a part of DePaul University."

Tributes came pouring in for the Stegall family, which led to the nine-time CFL All-Star releasing a statement on social media.

"Every tribute, every call, every message, post, or sign, every act of love has wrapped my family and me in a comfort that is helping us navigate through these difficult times. The love you’ve shown us has been overwhelming, in the best way. It’s reminded us that this league, this family, runs so much deeper than football," Milt Stegall wrote. "Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We feel them. And I hope to see you all again soon."

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A post shared by Chase Stegall * (@chase_.stegall)

Stegall's cause of death is heartbreaking.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Stegall's death was "natural." It was listed as "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy."

What makes this situation so sad is that Stegall detailed a health scare he had in February.

“I can’t tell you exactly what happened,” Chase wrote, via Us Weekly. “All I know is that I had a seizure. And all I remember is waking up in the hospital. But when I opened my eyes, there was Mark Plotkin, my head soccer coach, standing next to me. He’d left practice and had come to the hospital to see how I was doing. He stayed there for hours with me.”

Our thoughts remain with Stegall's loved ones as they navigate through this tragedy.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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