Everyone knows that a big part of sports is injuries, whether it be something as minuscule as a pulled muscle, to a snapped femur; if you watch sports you’re guaranteed to see one.
Over the course of live streamed professional sports, fans have seen numerous gruesome injuries that are difficult to forget. Here’s a list of what I think are the top five most concerning and scary injuries of all time, in no particular order:
5. Clint Malarchuk throat slash
During a game between the visiting St. Louis Blues and Malarchuk’s Buffalo Sabres on March 22, 1989, Clint Malarchuk was defending his goal when he got his jugular sliced. This injury took almost 300 stitches to heal and he returned back to play only less than a few weeks later.
4. Johnny Knox back snap
On Dec. 13, 2011, in a game against the Seattle Seahawks, wide receiver Johnny Knox caught a pass and fumbled. Then, when he scrambled to dive on the fumble, 285-pound defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove dove for the ball, hitting Knox’s top half. This collision bent Knox’s back backwards, touching his legs. This injury forced him to retire.
3. Damar Hamlin collapse
On Jan. 2, 2023, safety Damar Hamlin tackled wide receiver Tee Higgins, then seconds later, after standing back up, collapsed to the ground. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was given CPR, and his heartbeat was revived within a scary few minutes. Hamlin went to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. He since then has recovered and returned to the playing field for the Buffalo Bills.
2. Joe Theismann leg injuryOn Nov. 18, 1985, the Washington Redskins were playing against the New York Giants and widely-feared linebacker Lawrence Taylor. As quarterback Joe Theismann dropped back to look for someone to throw the ball to, two Giants defenders crashed down on him, including Lawrence Taylor, landing awkwardly on his leg and snapping the bone out of his skin. This forced Theismann’s career to an end.
1. Kevin Ware leg injury
On March 31, 2013, in the first half of an Elite 8 game against Duke, Kevin Ware went up to contest a three-point shot and landed awkwardly. His right leg gave out, and the bone snapped clean in half, exposing a bloodied bone through his leg to the full crowd of spectators. He was stretchered off the court and told teammates, “I’m fine, just win the game.” Just a year later, he returned to play and later transferred to Georgia State and played internationally.
Have a favorite sports injury, from the pro or college ranks, or even your own home video? Let us know in the comments!
