Former Lions Safety Tommy Vaughn Diagnosed with CTE

Former Detroit Lions safety Tommy Vaughn was diagnosed with advanced stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy following his death last July, according to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett.

Kristal Vaughn said her father's diagnosis provided some explanation for behavior Birkett described as "more erratic over the years."

"Honestly, as soon as I hung up with the doctor and he gave me the report, I just fell to my knees and started crying even more cause I truly understand my daddy even more,” Kristal said. “And why he’s the way he was."

Kristal recounted how Vaughn would hit members of the family, including her and her mother, and make inappropriate comments, only to often "[have] no…