Former Giants, Rams Linebacker Suspected of Having CTE, Dies
Bill Swain, who played six seasons in the NFL for four different teams, died on April 24. He was 85.
According to his obituary placed in the Palm Beach Post, Swain fought “a long and courageous battle with dementia associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”
CTE is a degenerative brain disease believed to be linked to concussions, a brain injury caused by a forcible blow to the head. Research suggests that one does not necessarily need to obtain a concussion to develop the condition; any head injury repeated enough times may be enough.
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Swain went undrafted out of college, but still managed to play 82 games for the Los Angeles Rams (1963), Minnesota Vikings (1964), New York Giants (1965-67) and Detroit Lions (1968-69). He started all 14 games for the Giants in 1967, and was credited with one interception. He recorded the second and final interception of his career, a pick-six, with the Lions in 1968.
Swain missed the entire 1966 season after undergoing knee surgery in September, but played three more seasons in the NFL - and began a fourth, competing for a job in training camp with the Lions in 1970.
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Swain was released by Detroit on Sept. 14, 1970. Ten days later, he signed with the Long Island Bulls of the short-lived Atlantic Coast Football League. The Bulls ceased operations after the 1970 season.
After graduating from North Bend (Oregon) High School, where he also starred in basketball and baseball, Swain played for the University of Oregon for two years. He was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
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According to his obituary in the Palm Beach Post, Swain remained in New York after his playing career ended. He served as the city’s Deputy Commissioner of Recreation for several years and owned a local bar named Swain's.
He later moved to Hawaii, where he went into the property management industry. Swain is survived by his wife, Jane and his son, Andrew.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 11:27 AM.