Stanley Wilson Jr., a former NFL cornerback with the Detroit Lions, has died after collapsing in a mental hospital in Los Angeles, California.
TMZ Sports reported that Wilson Jr. died earlier this month at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles, where he was taken for treatment on February 1st. He had been declared incompetent to stand trial following a vandalism arrest in August.
According to TMZ, Wilson Jr. was accused of breaking into a Hollywood Hills home twice on separate occasions, with one visit resulting in damage to property at the home. His autopsy report is pending toxicology reports, and foul play is reportedly not suspected.
Wilson Jr. was the son of former Bengals running back Stanley Wilson Sr., and he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2005. He only played two seasons with the Lions, ending his career in 2007.
After his playing career, Wilson Jr. had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, including a charge of attempted burglary after he allegedly broke into a home in Portland in 2016. TMZ reported that he was “completely nude” when the incident occurred. He was arrested again twice in 2017, once for walking nude around a neighborhood in Portland and then for an additional allegation of attempted breaking and entering.
During his two seasons with the Lions, Wilson Jr. recorded 87 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one forced fumble over the span of 32 games. He was widely regarded as a talented cornerback who failed to reach his potential due to off-field issues.
The cause of Wilson Jr.’s death is currently unknown and is being investigated.
Ex-NFL DB Stanley Wilson Jr. dead at 40. Collapsed at mental Hospital. Declared incompetent to stand trial after years of bizarre behaviors. Some individuals w/#CTE exhibit psychiatric sx. Research needed to learn if connected. Certainly, CTE doesn’t help. https://t.co/LRMD8lvaLc
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) February 15, 2023
