Former NFL defensive back Phillip Adams' brain will be studied for CTE

Earlier this week, former NFL defensive back Phillip Adams shot and killed five people before killing himself. Now his brain will be studied for CTE, according to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN). 

York County, South Carolina coroner Sabrina Gast said Friday that Adams' family has authorized that the autopsy includes a search for CTE. The Medical University of South Carolina will work with Boston University to study Adams' brain. 

Adams' father told WCNC-TV that he thinks "football messed him up," so it's no surprise that the family would like to know if he did have CTE. 

It's still unclear why Adams shot and killed a prominent South Carolina doctor, his wife, two grandchildren, and another person. South Carolina U.S. Representative Ralph Norman told Alex Giles of WBTV that the doctor had been treating Adams and stopped giving him medication, which could have sparked the killings. 

"He was treating him and stopped giving him medicine and that's what triggered the killings from what I understand," Norman said.

Adams spent six seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons.