5 Most Horrific Injuries in NFL

Entertaining as it may be, the NFL is one of the most dangerous contacts sports in history. With powerful athletes pounding on each other, the sport has unfortunately been a witness to a number of dreadful injuries. While we all want our favorite athletes and teams to lay it all on the field, it is extremely tough to watch any player suffer a painful blow in the game. From career threatening ones to season-ending blows, injuries are without doubt a major downside to the game.

While the medical teams have no doubt become better, the athletes have grown bigger, faster and stronger today! Horrible injuries are bound to occur when these gladiators bang into each other during the game. The impact is often felt by the spectators, either in the stands or via television.

Many argue that the sport is too brutal to be enjoyed, with concussions, broken legs and head traumas occurring regularly. The violence and its impact cannot be disregarded, in spite of it being a raw, combat sport. Players have complained of a damaged brain in the recent past, with many professional athletes retiring early due to the same. Should the sport be scrutinized or have its rules looked into, is a different debate altogether - one we should definitely discuss later.

Here is a list of the five most horrific injuries in NFL history, tough to read as it was to write.

5. Napoleon McCallum vs San Francisco 49ers (1994)

The Los Angeles Raiders running back suffered one of the worst season-opening injuries in NFL history when he had his kneecap dislocated against the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. Rushing up the middle, Napoleon was heavily tackled by a group of defenders. With his leg caught between two players, he horribly tore his kneecap and his dreams of playing in the league. A career-ending blow, he never set his foot on the field again. Players on both ends could not believe what they had just seen, with many moved to tears. The video is heartbreaking and a pain to watch even today.

4. Johnny Knox vs Seattle Seahawks (2011)

Johnny Knox

Playing the final game of the 2011 regular season, the Chicago Bears wide receiver suffered a fatal end to his NFL playing career. Knox was hit in the back by a defender, while he tried to recover the ball after fumbling it initially. The tackle left him with a fractured vertebra and a premature end to his promising career. The nerve damage ensured he had no chance to ever resume playing. Luckily though, he manages to walk today.

3. Dennis Byrd vs Washington Redskins (1992)

Dennis Byrd

One of the saddest injuries to ever take place, Dennis Byrd suffered a temporary paralysis when he accidentally collided with his teammate back in 1992. Trying to bring down the Redskins' quarterback, Byrd pounded his head into the chest of his fellow teammate and suffered a career-ending injury. The collision left him dazed and flat on the field, never to return to the NFL again. While he thankfully managed to recover and get back to his feet, the injury was a real nightmare.

2. Joe Theismann vs New York Giants (1985)

Joe Theismann

Star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Joe Theismann suffered a brutal end to his NFL career on Monday Night Football, back in 1985. Sacked by Lawrence Taylor, Joe ended up with a broken leg as a result of the crushing tackle. With his bone stuck out, it remains as one of the most gruesome sights on national television till date.

1 Leonard Weaver vs Green Bay Packers (2010)

Leonard Weaver

One of the ugliest NFL injuries to ever happen on live television, Leonard Weaver suffered a horrific knee injury at the hands of a Green Bay Packer defender. With his leg bent sideways, the Philadelphia Eagles fullback wept his way out of the NFL with a shredded ACL. He underwent multiple rounds of rehab, but never managed to play again.

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