Following his request, his brain was sent to the Boston University School of Medicine for research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, Duerson played football, basketball, and baseball at Northside High School.

[1] Duerson played college football at the University of Notre Dame from 1979 to 1982,[2] and graduated with honors, with a BA in economics.

[3] He was the winner of the Edward "Moose" Krause Distinguished Service Award in 1990 by the Notre Dame Monogram Club, of which he was a past president.

[2] Taken in the third round of the 1983 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, Duerson was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1986–1989).

The Miami-Dade County medical examiner reported that Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

[13] Duerson was also mentioned in the HBO series Ballers in reference to CTE with character Ricky Jerret.