Family of Blue Bomber great Milt Stegall mourns death of son, Chase

CBC

3 days ago

The family of CFL Hall of Famer Milt Stegall has issued a statement on the sudden death of his 20-year-old son, Chase.
Chase Stegall died Monday morning at his residence at DePaul University in Chicago, where he was a sophomore with the school's soccer team.
He was the eldest son of Milt and Darlene, and brother to Collin.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved son and brother, Chase Hamilton Stegall. Chase lived a life filled with love, kindness, and talent, and his memory will be forever etched in our hearts," the statement says.
"We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and appreciation for Chase and the many gifts he shared throughout his life. Your heartfelt condolences and support mean more than words can express.
"As a family, we ask for privacy as we grieve this deeply painful loss."
No cause of death has been given.
Chase was often seen around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their old Polo Park-area stadium in the mid-1990s until the mid-2000s.
His dad, Milt, who retired from playing in 2009, was one of the most popular Bombers in team history. He played in blue and gold from 1995-98 before suiting up for the New Orleans Saints but tearing his ACL.
He came back to the Bombers from 1999-2008 and put his stamp all over the CFL record books.
He was named a division all-star eight times, a league all-star six times and the league's most outstanding player in 2002. He holds virtually every Bombers receiving record and is the CFL all-time leader in career touchdowns with 147.
"Chase was a bright and talented young man with a promising future, and his loss is felt deeply across our entire Blue Bombers family," said a statement Monday from Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller, whose career with the Bombers was overlapped by Stegall's.
Tributes and condolences have also been expressed by the CFL, the league's TV broadcaster, TSN, the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, and dozens upon dozens of fans on social media.
Milt Stegall has been a CFL analyst on TSN's studio panel since his retirement.
No details about a memorial service for Chase have been announced.
"In this time of grief, we take comfort in knowing how many lives he touched and we will continue to honour Chase's memory with the love and light he brought into the world," the Stegall family statement says.