Former NFL and CFL player Milt Stegall broke his silence following the death of his oldest son, Chase Stegall, earlier this month at the age of 20.
“Thank you to the entire @CFL community,” Milt, 55, wrote on Saturday, June 7, via a statement on X, giving his Canadian Football League family and CFL on TSN co-anchors a special shout-out for their support.
The former Cincinnati Bengals player continued: “To my bosses, the commissioner, my @CFLonTSN family, players, past and present, owners, coaches, general managers, team staff, media personalities, and the incredible fans who make this league so special. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Milt noted, “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.”
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He concluded, “Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We feel them. And I hope to see you all again soon. #CFLLove #PaperPlates.”
Milt’s statement came days after his eldest son, Chase, was found dead in his dorm room at DePaul University in Chicago on June 2. An autopsy has been ordered to determine Chase’s cause and manner of death, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office via the Chicago Sun Times.
The college sophomore was part of the school’s men’s soccer team, who felt his loss immensely. Shortly after Chase’s death was made public, the DePaul athletics director DeWayne Peevy and men’s soccer coach Mark Plotkin released a statement about his work ethic and heart.
“We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Chase Stegall, a cherished member of our community, dedicated teammate and kind-hearted friend,” the statement read at the time. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase’s family, friends, teammates and all who loved him.”
The program added: “In 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.”
Chase announced in December 2022 that he committed to DePaul for soccer after playing high school ball at Woodward Academy in Georgia.
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He played in 16 out of 17 games during the 2024 soccer season — as a sophomore — and scored one goal against Drake University. His did not play during his freshman season.
Prior to his death, Chase recalled having a history of health ups and downs including seizures that sidelined him at times from the sport. “My teammates and friends constantly checked up on me,” he wrote in a story for the DePaul website in February. “They’d helped me get to the hospital and sent me texts to make sure I was doing OK. Their kindness, their care, stayed with me.”
Chase’s athletic ability runs in the family, with his father, Milt, playing in the NFL for three seasons and later the Canadian Football League on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 14 seasons.
Milt and his family, which includes wife Darlene Stegall and their younger son, Collin Stegall, have received an outpouring of love since Chase’s death.
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His former CFL team shared a message of support via Instagram, writing, “Chase was a bright and talented young man with a promising future, and his loss is felt deeply across our entire Blue Bombers family.”
Milt, who has been a broadcaster and analyst for CFL on TSN since 2009, also received kind works from the network.
“Our CFL on TSN family is absolutely devastated over Chase’s passing. If you know Milt, you know that his family is everything to him, and we cannot imagine the pain he is going through right now,” producer Chris Edwards said in a statement on Wednesday, June 4. “Milt is our brother, and we are going to give him our love and support him in any way we can, and in whatever way he needs.”
