In hopes of helping others, members of Junior Seau's family have decided to have the late football star's brain studied by doctors to see whether he suffered brain injuries.

The decision came after the San Diego County medical examiner concluded that Seau died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Seau, 43, a famed player at USC and for the San Diego Chargers, was found dead in bed at his Oceanside home about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday by his girlfriend. A gun was found near the body, but there was no note, officials said.

PHOTOS: Junior Seau | 1969 - 2012

Seau's parents made a tearful appearance outside his home Thursday night, thanking a crowd that had gathered, and all of the San Diego region, for showing such admiration and love for their son.

"Thank you so much," Tiaina Seau told the crowd of several hundred outside the beachfront home. "God bless you guys."

Sobbing uncontrollably, Seau's mother, Luisa, said, "There's so much pain. It's so hard."

PHOTOS: Notable deaths of 2012

They later joined the crowd in singing "Amazing Grace."

Officials said plans for memorials late next week are shaping up, at a local church and at Oceanside High School, which Junior Seau attended before enrolling at USC.

San Diego Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell told The Times' Sam Farmer of the decision to have Seau's brain donated for research.

"The family was considering this almost from the beginning, but they didn't want to make any emotional decisions. And when they came to a joint decision that absolutely this was the best thing, it was a natural occurrence for the Seau family to go forward."