Turk Edwards – Washington RedskinsConsidering he was a big, tough offensive lineman used to battling it out in the trenches with opposing defenders, Turk Edwards, of the Washington Redskins, was forced out of the NFL all too easily in 1940. The Hall of Fame player renowned for his durability, suffered a career-ending knee injury while performing the coin toss ahead of a game against the New York Giants on September 22. After the coin had been tossed, Edwards turned to walk back to the sideline but his studs caught in the grass and he badly injured his knee. The offensive tackle never played in the NFL again.
David Bowens – Miami Dolphins
Defensive end David Bowens will miss much of Miami’s 2003 campaign after injuring his knee while changing a light bulb during the summer. Bowens – a pass-rushing specialist who makes a living bullying opposing quarterbacks – was changing the bulb at his home in July when he jumped down from a ladder and tore ligaments in his right knee. Although he has since undergone a successful operation, Bowens is not expected to be back in action until mid-November.
Gus Frerotte – Washington Redskins
In 1997, Gus Frerotte sidelined himself after performing one of the dumbest touchdown celebrations in NFL history. The Washington Redskins Pro Bowl quarterback head-butted a wall behind the end zone after scoring a touchdown and suffered a concussion. Knocked senseless, Frerotte missed the remainder of the game against the New York Giants and several weeks after that. He lost his starting job in Washington and the injury marked the beginning of the end for Frerotte with the Redskins. Since then, he has bounced around the NFL as a backup and is currently with the Minnesota Vikings
Bill Gramatica – Arizona Cardinals The excitable Argentinian kicker suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2001 when he jumped for joy after converting a 42-yard field goal against the New York Giants. Gramatica was not even celebrating a game-winning effort as the kick came in the first quarter. When he landed after jumping in the air, Gramatica tore ligaments in his right knee and was sidelined for months.
He said: “You watch the World Cup and it doesn’t matter if they score a goal in the first minute of the game or the last. The celebrations are just as wild and that’s how it is with me. When I see the ball go through the posts, I’m happy, but I will not be celebrating like that in the future.”
Olindo Mare – Miami DolphinsThe NFL’s highest-paid kicker was briefly sidelined during the 1997 season when he pulled his hamstring while stretching as he got into bed. Luckily for Mare and the Dolphins, he missed just a few days of practice before returning to the starting lineup and kicking a game-winning field goal in a 17-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Clive Rush – Boston Patriots When Clive Rush was unveiled as head coach of the Boston Patriots (later to become the New England Patriots) in 1969, he made quite an impression on the gathered media – by electrocuting himself. At a press conference to announce his hiring, Rush touched a live microphone and collapsed just as owner Dan Marr pulled the cord out of the socket, saving his new coach from further injury. The inauspicious debut was a sign of things to come as the Patriots lost their first seven games under Rush and ended the year with a 4-10 record. After opening the 1970 campaign with a further seven losses in a row, Rush was fired.
Johnny Unitas – Baltimore ColtsDespite being arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Johnny Unitas still incurred the wrath of the Colts coaching staff in 1971 when he tore his Achilles tendon while playing racquetball with teammate Tom Matte. Unitas fought back from the injury but spent the 1972 season on the bench before the Colts traded him to the San Diego Chargers in 1973 – his final year in the NFL.
Dan Devine – Green Bay PackersAs head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Dan Devine endured a terrible day at the office on September 19, 1971. Caught in a sideline pile-up during the contest against the New York Giants, Devine broke his leg. To make matters worse, the Packers suffered an agonising 42-40 defeat.
Tommie Smith – Cincinnati Bengals Upon joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969, Tommie Smith gained a lot of media attention as he entered the NFL as the reigning Olympic 200-metre champion. However, Smith had been banned from that sport for being one of two athletes to give the Black Power salute during the medal ceremony in 1968. On his first play in the NFL, Smith used his impressive speed to catch a 42-yard pass. Unfortunately, he suffered a career-ending knee injury and goes down as the NFL’s ultimate one-play wonder.
Lionel Taylor – Chicago BearsRookie wide receiver Lionel Taylor never actually suffered an injury in his first season with the Chicago Bears but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. During a meaningless preseason friendly against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bears were attempting to come from behind and win with time running out. With no time outs remaining, the only way the Bears could stop the clock was if a player suffered an injury. Demanding head coach George Halas shoved the young Taylor onto the field and shouted: “We’re out of time outs. Go out there and get hurt.”
Luckily, Taylor survived and became one of the league’s best receivers following a move to the Denver Broncos. He later served as head coach of the London Monarchs in the NFL Europe League.
Top 10 NFL injuries
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