10 of the Worst Sports Injuries in the History of the NFL

Rashad Johnson – Severed Finger

Julian Rashad Johnson, a former American Football Safety, suffered from a severed middle finger in a game against the New Orleans Saints. While many wouldn’t have placed a sports betting wager on him losing half the tip of his finger, many would have placed wagers that he wouldn’t return to the game. They would be mistaken! Rashad Johnson came to the sideline after a ruthless tackle on opponent Darren Sproles. After removing his glove, it became apparent that the tip of his finger remained behind. This never stopped the USA athlete. In fact, he returned to the game to make history. It was reported that surgery included having to shave his finger down to the first knuckle, and today he sports a shorter middle finger as an honorable memory of one of the worst NFL injuries of all time.

Darryl Stingley’s – Paralysis

This life-changing ordeal took place in 1978, Darryl Stingley, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots suffered a spinal injury that cost him his ability to move as well as ended his career. The key player collided with the opposing team Jack Tatum, and as a result, ended in Stingley suffering a compressed spinal cord, breaking his 4^th and cervical vertebrae.

Joe Theismann – Broken Leg

Another NFL veteran, Joe Theismann, claimed a title as one of the worst sports injuries in the history of the NFL back in 1985. In a game with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, the Giants linebacker (Lawrence Taylor) tackled Theismann and caused the catastrophic injury and career-ending broken leg. To make matters all the more gruesome, the entire ordeal was captured on live television. YouTube videos can be found of the exact moment, in slow motion, of what had occurred. Lawrence Taylor showed true compassion throughout the moment in history and touched all those who were watching. Sadly, it was also the moment that Joe Theismann’s career ended.

Napoleon McCallum’s – Dislocated Knee

Back in 1994, Napoleon McCallum suffered a career-ending knee injury. This horrific event occurred on Monday night in a game between the Los Angeles Raiders and San Francisco 49ers. His injuries didn’t just stop at a dislocated knee. He also tore 3 ligaments, tore the calf from the hamstring from the bone, and suffered nerve damage in the knee along with a ruptured artery in the knee.

Alex Smith – Broken Leg

No one could have predicted that the injuries Alex Smith sustained would be as serious as they were. Smith, a Redskins quarterback, was sacked by 2 Houston Texan players who landed on top of him, breaking his tibia and right fibula. Thereafter, he was cloaked in a fuzzy, adding more impact to his injuries. Players were unaware that the star athlete had received shocking injuries. The result of these injuries sustained included 17 surgeries and 2 years of rehab. However, the NFL player continued his career despite the challenges of this injury.

Mike Utley’s – Paralysis

Mike Utley, a Detroit Lions player, remains an inspiration to many since his career-ending injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Utley, an offensive lineman, sustained a spinal cord injury that ended his NFL career. In a game against the Los Angeles Rams, Mike Utley blocked David Rocker which resulted in injuries to his 6^th and 7^th cervical vertebrae.

Ronnie Lott – Amputation

Lott is an internationally recognized NFL player whose career lasted for over a decade. The star athlete earned first-team All-Pro honours at all three defensive backfield positions. Ronnie Lott is also known for his decision to amputate a finger he crushed in a tackle. The decision came after he found out he would miss playing time on the field for reconstructive surgery. He opted to have the top of his digit amputated, making him even tougher than he looked.

Dennis Byrd – Spinal Injury

Dennis Byrd played against the Chiefs and suffered from a spinal injury on his 5^th cervical vertebrae after a career-ending collision. Doctors feared that he wouldn’t be able to walk again. However, against all odds and after several months in painful rehabilitation, Dennis Byrd was able to walk again but never returned to the NFL.

Johnny Knox – Back Injury

In 2011, an in-play game with the Seahawks vs. Bears game caused much commotion and a famous player made history.  Johnny Knox from the Chicago Bears sustained massive injuries that led to the end of his NFL career. The NFL star player was bent backwards in such an angle, it was visible to see an immediate injury. During this failed attempt to intercept a fumble, Johnny Knox fractured his vertebra and ended up in rehab. His back would never be the same again, and many would look at this moment in history and remember the near-fatal injury Johnny Knox suffered.

Chris Kuper – Broken Leg

The former American football star for the Denver Broncos of the NFL, Chris Kuper twisted and broke his leg so badly, that the gruesome event caused his teammates to reel back in anguish. His foot was facing the opposite direction of what it should have. The injury wasn’t career-ending, but it did affect the NFL star’s career and recovery made sure his game wouldn’t be the same.

We all know that some of these NFL players are as tough as nails, but surviving these types of injuries, some of which could have been fatal, just goes to show how harrowing playing football can be. Some of these types of injuries happen in practice and sometimes it happens on national television. Either way, we can only imagine how painful these injuries can be. This is why top sportsbook platforms such as Snatch Casino follow in-play games and NFL seasonal events. Be sure you don’t miss out on accurate wagers and moments in history that will hopefully be less aggressive than the injuries suffered by the above-mentioned stars in the history of the NFL.