The circumstances surrounding DePaul University soccer player Chase Stegall’s death have been revealed.
Stegall’s cause of death was listed as “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy” by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death is classified as “natural.” He was 20 years old.
Stegall was found dead inside his residence hall on DePaul’s campus on June 2.
The son of former professional football player Milt Stegall, Chase played in 16 of DePaul’s 17 games during his sophomore season in 2024, scoring a goal against Drake in September of that year.
Milt, who played 21 games over three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 to 1994 and later transitioned to a successful career in the Canadian Football League, issued a statement about his son’s death on June 7.
“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,” Milt, 55, wrote via X. “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 concluded, “Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We feel them. And I hope to see you all again soon.”
Chase was also survived by his mother, Darlene, and his brother, Collin.
In February, Chase wrote an essay detailing a recent health scare.
“I can’t tell you exactly what happened,” Chase wrote. “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.”
He continued, “My teammates and friends constantly checked up on me, too. 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.”
The experience helped Chase realize that DePaul was “the right place for me.”
“My journey as a student-athlete at DePaul has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve found a supportive community that cares about me,” he wrote. “From waking up in the hospital with my coach by my side to scoring my first college goal, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of playing this sport. It’s helped me learn the value of resilience, dedication, and representation.
Chase concluded, “The DePaul community has meant everything to me, and reminded me every day that I’m living my dream. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
