The Craziest Injuries in Professional Sports

by Dan Holmes, April 25, 2025

In the world of professional sports, injuries are an unfortunate reality. Torn ACLs, concussions, broken bones—you name it, and an athlete has probably suffered from it. But sometimes, the most bizarre sports injuries don’t happen in the heat of competition. Instead, they occur in ways that leave fans scratching their heads and wondering, “How is that even possible?”

From weird baseball injuries to strange football injuries, here are some of the most ridiculous mishaps in sports history.

Michael Jordan’s Cigar-Cutting Catastrophe

Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time, but even the GOAT isn’t immune to bizarre sports injuries. During his time with the Washington Wizards, Jordan suffered a deep cut on his index finger while attempting to cut a cigar. The injury required surgery and affected his ability to grip a basketball, ultimately playing a role in his final retirement.

Just imagine explaining that to all online betting sites trying to figure out if he’d return for yet another comeback.

Bill Gramatica’s Over Enthusiastic High-Five Disaster

Celebrating a great play is part of sports, but sometimes, it backfires in the most embarrassing ways. NFL kicker Bill Gramatica learned this the hard way when he tore his ACL while celebrating a routine field goal in 2001. He jumped up to pump his fist in the air, landed awkwardly, and collapsed in agony. A kicker tearing an ACL while kicking? Nope—while celebrating. Truly one of the weirdest football injuries ever.

Alan Trammell’s Halloween Horror

Detroit Tigers legend Alan Trammell suffered one of the most bizarre sports injuries in history—and it didn’t even happen on the baseball field. In the late 1980s, Trammell dressed as Frankenstein for a Halloween party and decided to complete the look with platform shoes. Bad idea. He lost his balance, fell, and injured his knee so severely that he required surgery. Talk about a weird baseball injury that truly belongs in a horror movie.

Joel Zumaya’s Guitar Hero Jam

Baseball players are known for their hand-eye coordination, but maybe that’s best left for actual baseball activities. Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya missed time during the 2006 playoffs due to a wrist injury—not from throwing 100-mph fastballs, but from playing Guitar Hero too aggressively. The video game-induced strain forced him to sit out crucial games, making it one of the strangest sports injuries in modern baseball history.

Brandon Inge’s Pillow-Related Pain

Brandon Inge, a former Detroit Tigers infielder, suffered one of the weirdest sports injuries imaginable—while fluffing a pillow for his daughter. Somehow, this seemingly harmless dad move resulted in a strained oblique muscle, sidelining him during the 2011 season. As injuries go, this one is as wholesome as it is ridiculous. Given how mediocre Inge was, maybe his being out of the lineup wasn’t so bad: Detroit won the division title.

Rickey Henderson’s Frostbite in Summer

Base stealing legend Rickey Henderson was known for his lightning-fast speed, but he couldn’t outrun one of the weirdest baseball injuries ever. He fell asleep with an ice pack on his leg, only to wake up with severe frostbite. That’s right—frostbite from an ice pack. Even Henderson’s most die-hard fans probably didn’t have “frozen leg” on their list of possible career setbacks.

Sammy Sosa’s Violent Sneeze

Former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa suffered a back injury in 2004, but it wasn’t from swinging a bat. It was from sneezing—twice. The force of consecutive sneezes triggered severe back spasms, sending Sosa to the injured list. If there’s an all-time list for weird baseball injuries, this one ranks high.

Glenallen Hill’s Spider Nightmare

Glenallen Hill had one of the most terrifying and strange sports injuries in baseball history. A lifelong arachnophobe, Hill once had a nightmare about spiders and, in his sleep, began thrashing around his apartment. The result? He fell out of bed, crashed into a glass table, and suffered multiple cuts and bruises. Hill missed time due to “nightmare-induced injuries”, which is about as bizarre as it gets.

Chris Hanson’s Axe Wound

NFL punter Chris Hanson found himself in a strange football injury situation when he took a motivational stunt too far. Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio placed a wooden stump and an axe in the locker room as a metaphor for “keeping chopping wood”. Hanson took it literally and swung the axe—only to slice his own leg. He missed the rest of the season. That’s what happens when motivation meets bad judgment.

Marty Cordova’s Tanning Bed Burns

Former MLB outfielder Marty Cordova suffered one of the weirdest baseball injuries imaginable—severe burns from a tanning bed. In 2002, Cordova fell asleep while tanning, leading to facial burns so bad that doctors advised him to avoid sunlight. That’s a tough break for someone whose job requires playing outside in the sun.

Steve Sparks’ Phone Book Incident

Steve Sparks, a former MLB pitcher, learned the hard way that some stunts are best left to professionals. Inspired by motivational speakers who ripped phone books in half, Sparks attempted to do the same—and promptly dislocated his shoulder. Instead of becoming a motivational success story, he ended up on the injured list.

Plaxico Burress’ Self-Inflicted Gunshot

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress takes the crown for one of the most infamous and strange sports injuries. In 2008, Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg while carrying a concealed firearm in a nightclub. Not only did the injury land him on the sideline, but he also served jail time for illegal possession of the weapon. Talk about a self-inflicted career wound.

Clint Barmes’ Deer Meat Disaster

Colorado Rockies infielder Clint Barmes had a promising rookie season in 2005, but his momentum was stopped short by an unusual injury. After receiving a package of deer meat from teammate Todd Helton, Barmes fell while carrying it up the stairs. The tumble resulted in a broken collarbone, sidelining him for months. The lesson? Sometimes, it’s better to make two trips.

From Halloween costume mishaps to overzealous celebrations, professional athletes have found the strangest ways to injure themselves. These bizarre sports injuries prove that while talent and skill can take you to the top, sheer bad luck (or bad decisions) can bring you right back down. Whether it’s weird baseball injuries like Rickey Henderson’s frostbite or weird football injuries like Bill Gramatica’s doomed celebration, these stories remind us that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.