Tests: Former Hawkeye Sash died from mix of methadone, hydrocodone

Toxicology tests revealed that former Hawkeye and New York Giants football player Tyler Sash died Sept. 8 from an accidental "mixed drug toxicity involving methadone and hydrocodone," according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The state medical examiner tested Sash's body on Sept. 9. A recent shoulder dislocation and a history of chronic shoulder pain were also significant conditions. Additional studies for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma, are pending and will be completed in approximately eight to 12 months.

Sash was 27.

According to a Oskaloosa Police Department release when Sash died, emergency services responded to reports of an unresponsive male around 10 a.m. Upon arrival, it was determined the individual had died and was identified as Sash. Police believe Sash had a prescription for the medication.

“We found various prescription bottles in his house,” said John McGee, chief of Oskaloosa police department.

Sash was a beloved member of Iowa's 2009 team, which went 11-2, beat Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl and finished No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll.

A multi-sport star in high school, Sash went on to earn all-Big Ten honors twice with the Hawkeyes. Sash started 37 games during his Hawkeye career. His 13 interceptions at Iowa rank fifth in school history.

He turned pro following his junior season in 2010 and became a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Giants. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in 2011, his rookie NFL season, and his jersey hangs in Oskaloosa's elementary school cafeteria.

Sash's NFL career started to unravel in 2012.

He was suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, saying he took the prescription drug Adderall to help with anxiety.

After playing in just seven games that year, the Giants cut Sash before the 2013 season.

In 2014, Sash pleaded guilty to public intoxication after leading Oskaloosa Police officers on a scooter chase.

Foreclosure proceedings on Sash's property had begun in October 2014, according to a search of online court records. The process was reported to have been completed in late July.

Police have yet to release the incident report from Sash's death.

“I’m having our attorney look at what we can and can’t release," McGee said. "We do that quite frequently, especially when it involves investigative reports.

“It’s a resource we have, so we use that.”

Reporter Andrew Logue contributed to this report.

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