Five of the Worst Football Injuries Ever

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 11 September 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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• Worst NFL Injuries
• Worst Injury in NFL History
• E.J. Henderson’s Shattered Femur
• Eric Wood’s Fractured Leg
• Alex Smith’s Complex Fracture
• Tim Krumrie’s Super Bowl Nightmare
• Destry Wright’s Career-Ending Injury
• Frequently Asked Questions

The NFL is a high-impact sport that shows viewers the strength, speed, and agility of its players. However, the intense physical nature of the game also leads to some of the most shocking injuries in sports history. From shattered femurs to complex fractures, the NFL has seen it all.

In today’s post, we will be discussing some of the worst NFL injuries in the history of the league. Be warned; the worst NFL injuries of all time don’t make for easy reading, so proceed at your own risk!

Worst NFL Injuries

The NFL has witnessed hundreds of injuries throughout its history, some of which are significantly worse than others. These injuries are a regular reminder of the physical dangers the sport poses to its players.

Today’s blog post gives you an in-depth look at some of the most severe injuries in NFL history, including those suffered by E.J. Henderson, Eric Wood, Alex Smith, Tim Krumrie, and Destry Wright. Each of these players endured horrific injuries that not only impacted their careers but also left a lasting impression on the sport.

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Joe Theismann: Worst Injury in NFL History

The history of the NFL is marked by numerous shocking injuries. The physical nature of American football, combined with the increasing size, strength, and speed of the players, has led to some truly horrific incidents on the field.

One of the worst football injuries occurred in 1985 when Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suffered a compound fracture of his leg during a nationally televised game. The injury was so severe that it ended Theismann’s career and is often cited as the worst injury in NFL history.

It occurred during a game between the Redskins and the New York Giants. Theismann was sacked by Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, with Taylor’s knee hitting the quarterback’s lower right leg. This caused fractures to his tibia and fibula.

The injury was so bad that one of the leg bones went through the skin. According to Theismann, he heard the injury – just another gruesome aspect to what is considered the worst injury in NFL history.

E.J. Henderson’s Shattered Femur

E.J. Henderson played for the Minnesota Vikings as a linebacker, before he went on to suffer one of the most shocking injuries in NFL history. During a game against the Cardinals, he tried to tackle Tim Hightower. In the process, he shattered the femur in his left leg, causing it to bend awkwardly.

The injury was a devastating blow to Henderson and the Vikings. The femur is the strongest bone in the human body, and breaking it requires a significant amount of force. The incident was both gruesome to witness and scary to think about. It’s considered to be such a serious injury, the vast majority of those who endure it would never be able to return to professional football again.

Despite the severity of his injury, Henderson managed to make what many hail a miracle recovery. After undergoing surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process, he returned to the field the following season. While the injury didn’t pose any further setbacks to Henderson, fans and coaches were worried it would become problematic again – and some claim Henderson never quite returned to his full glory, despite making a full medical recovery.

Eric Wood’s Fractured Leg

Eric Wood, a lineman for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a severe injury during a game they were playing versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. A player from the opposing team landed on Wood’s leg, causing it to fracture. It is considered by many to be one of the worst injuries in football due to the nature of the accident, and the way it was viewed by those spectating at the game.

What’s more, Wood’s injury was particularly distressing because it occurred without warning. He had no time to react before the opposing player landed on his leg, and he appeared to undergo significant pain and distress in the immediate time frame after.

However, like Henderson, while the injury was severe, after undergoing surgery and a grueling rehabilitation process, he returned to play the full 2010 season. Many hail his recovery as a demonstration of what the US medical system is capable of when you have money – and it’s believed that an entire team of coaches and medical professionals were involved in his rehabilitation.

Alex Smith’s Complex Fracture

Alex Smith, a quarterback for the Washington Redskins, suffered a complex fracture during a game against the Houston Texans. Two of the opposing team’s defenders sacked Smith, and in doing so, Smith’s right leg was twisted underneath him. He instantly broke two bones: his tibia and fibula. The injury was a grim reminder of the risks associated with the quarterback position, which often leaves players vulnerable to hits from opposing defenders.

Smith’s injury was particularly severe due to the nature of the break. Complex fractures, which involve multiple breaks, are more difficult to treat and often require a longer recovery period.

Smith faced countless challenges, including learning to walk again and regaining strength in his leg. He wore an external fixator device for several months to stabilize the injured limb. Despite the immense physical and emotional hurdles, Smith persevered and returned to the field in 2020, earning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award for his remarkable journey.

Tim Krumrie’s Super Bowl Nightmare

Tim Krumrie, a defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals, suffered a horrific injury during Super Bowl XXIII. While attempting to tackle Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers, Krumrie’s lower left leg completely buckled under his weight, and he instantly broke four bones. The injury was so severe that only his skin was holding his foot to his torso.

Krumrie’s injury was particularly shocking because it occurred during the Super Bowl, the most-watched event in American sports. Millions of viewers witnessed the incident, making it one of the most notorious injuries in NFL history.

Despite the excruciating pain, Krumrie displayed incredible toughness and determination. He was immediately taken to the locker room for medical attention, where he underwent emergency surgery to reset and stabilize the fracture. Krumrie’s injury was so severe that a metal rod was inserted into his leg to promote healing. Although he was unable to return to the game, he did return to football the following season – much to the surprise of fans and viewers.

Destry Wright’s Career-Ending Injury

Destry Wright’s NFL career was tragically cut short due to a severe injury. During a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Wright broke his right leg and dislocated his right ankle. The injury was so severe that he was found lying on his stomach with his right foot pointing upward – a sight that shocked pretty much everyone watching the game.

To make matters worse, Wright’s injury occurred during a preseason game, a time when players are typically trying to prove their worth and secure their spot on the team. The incident received national media coverage after an on-field photo was released that showed Wright’s foot pointing in the wrong direction, and due to the severity of the injury and the difficulties and risks involved in healing, Wright decided to retire from football for good.

Today, Wright is a middle school football coach at Cordova Middle School in Tennessee, and his story is one that aspiring football players are often told, reminding them of the importance of not relying on football as a career, as anything can change, at any moment.

Here’s a table with some of the other worst football injuries to have occurred in the NFL over the years: