The average retirement age for NFL players is currently around 27 years old. This means that most former players have almost their whole lives in front of them when they retire from professional football. They have the ability to pursue other interests as their NFL careers often open doors for them.Most players move on to new ventures following their football careers. Some, however, are less fortunate because their lives end before they really get started. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has long been a problem in the NFL. It has alarmingly been cited as the reason players have died young either during or after their NFL careers. It has also been a heavy contributor to suicides around the league. Here are five NFL players who have tragically died by suicide at a young age.#5 Phillip AdamsSan Francisco 49ers DB Phillip AdamsAfter being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2010 NFL Draft, Phillip Adams played for six different teams in six seasons. He recorded five interceptions and defended 15 total passes during his career as a defensive back.Nicholas Hunter@nikolo_hFive dead, one critically injured in a South Carolina shooting. The suspect is allegedly NFL player Philip Adams, who committed suicide following the event.1511Five dead, one critically injured in a South Carolina shooting. The suspect is allegedly NFL player Philip Adams, who committed suicide following the event. https://t.co/Xj9oamFnnxIn 2021, at just 32 years old, Adams took his own life after a standoff with police. He shot six people, killing five of them, before shooting himself a few days later. Adams had no previous criminal record or any history of violence. His autopsy revealed an advanced case of CTE.#4 Junior SeauPro Football Hall of Fame LB Junior SeauJunior Seau was a legendary NFL linebacker, who spent most of his career with the San Diego Chargers. He was selected to nine All-Pro teams and 12 Pro Bowls during his impressive career while being ranked third all time in total tackles.Seau tragically took his own life with a gunshot wound to the chest in 2012 when he was just 43 years old. About a year later, it was officially released that he was diagnosed with advanced CTE following an examination of his brain.