Has Any NFL Player Died on the Field?

The NFL is a dangerous sport. Every year, players risk their lives for the chance to win the Super Bowl. But sometimes, the risks are too high. In this blog post, we explore the tragic cases of NFL players who have died on the field.

Introduction

While it is a dangerous game, the NFL has only seen seven deaths from on-field injuries in its history. This list includes all players, not just NFL players, who died as a direct result of playing football at any level.

NFL Deaths by Year

Since 1920, when the NFL was founded, there have been a total of four deaths on the field due to playing football. All four deaths occurred prior to 1970.

1920: John Grasmick, a tackle for the Canton Bulldogs, died after sustaining a head injury during a game against the Detroit Heralds.

1928: William “Link” Lyman, a guard for the Providence Steam Roller, died after suffering a fractured skull during a game against the Brooklyn Lions.

1948: Bert Bell, commissioner of the NFL from 1946 to 1959, died of a heart attack while attending an Eagles-Steelers game at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. He was 62 years old.

1970: Chuck Hughes, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, collapsed and died of cardiac arrest during a game against the Chicago Bears at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. He was 28 years old.

NFL Deaths by Cause

There have been a total of seven NFL players who have died on the field since 1920. The most recent death was that of Minnesota Vikings player Korey Stringer, who died of heat stroke during training camp in 2001.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Each year, an estimated 2.87 million people sustain a TBI. Of these, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized and 1.365 million are treated and released from an emergency department.

In the NFL, there have been a number of deaths attributed to TBI, including Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau and Hall of Fame defensive back Ken Houston. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that TBI contributed to the deaths of 33 NFL players from 1997-2007.

Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning and happens most often in people who appear healthy. If this happens, death usually occurs within minutes, unless immediate medical attention is given.

While fatalities from other causes such as head injuries or heat stroke receive far more media attention, cardiac arrest is actually the leading cause of death in NFL players, accounting for nearly a third of all fatalities. Players with a history of cardiac problems are required to undergo regular testing and monitoring, but the condition can still be difficult to detect. In many cases, the first sign of a problem is sudden death on the field.

Heat-Related Illness

Heat-related illness is the leading cause of death among NFL players, according to a new study.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, found that from 2012 to 2016, there were nine deaths due to heat-related illness among NFL players. That’s an average of one death every two years.

The majority of these deaths occurred during training camp, when players are trying to get in shape for the season. But two players died during regular season games, and one player died during preseason play.

There are a number of ways to prevent heat-related illness, including making sure that players drink plenty of fluids and take breaks in the shade or air conditioning when they feel too hot. The study’s authors say that more research is needed to understand why some players are more susceptible to heat-related illness than others.

NFL Deaths by Position

While there has only been one death of an NFL player during a game in the past decade, there have been other deaths related to football. During the 2015 offseason, for example, Cleveland Browns linebacker Chris Henry died after falling out of the back of a pickup truck during a domestic dispute. In 2011, Oakland Raiders player Phillip Adams killed himself and his family after shooting them.

So while no NFL player has died during a game in recent memory, there have been other deaths related to football.

Preventing NFL Deaths

The National Football League has seen a total of thirteen deaths on the field since 1960. These deaths have largely been preventable, and the NFL has made strides in recent years to make the game safer. Most of the deaths have been due to head and neck injuries, so the NFL has implemented new rules to try to protect players from these types of injuries.

Better Equipment

American football is a dangerous sport. Several rule changes have been implemented over the years in order to make the game safer, but the physical nature of the sport prevents it from ever being completely safe. Despite the inherent risks, most NFL players manage to avoid serious injury and death.

There have only been three documented deaths due to on-field injuries in the NFL’s 100-year history. These deaths were all due to head or neck injuries and occurred before the modern era of better equipment and medical care.

The first death occurred in 1971 when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died during a game against the Detroit Lions. An autopsy revealed that Hughes had suffered a heart attack, but it is believed that his death was caused by a tackle that dislodged a piece of his dental bridge, which then lodged in his throat and blocked his airway.

The second death occurred in 1985 when Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman George Taliaferro collapsed during a game against the Chicago Bears. Taliaferro had suffered a broken neck earlier in the season and it is believed that his injury was aggravated by a hard tackle, causing him to suffer paralysis and eventually succumb to his injuries.

The third and most recent death occurred in 1993 when San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Harris Barton collapsed during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. Barton suffered an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which ruptured and caused him to bleed to death internally. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.

Though these deaths are tragic, they are also extremely rare. The NFL has made great strides in preventing them from occurring by mandating better equipment and improving medical care for players. With these precautions in place, it is unlikely that we will see another NFL player die on the field any time soon.

Improved Training

Since the 2002 death of Minnesota Viking offensive lineman Korey Stringer from heatstroke, the NFL has made a concerted effort to improve player safety. Players are now required to undergo hydration testing before practice and games to ensure they are properly hydrated. If a player is deemed to be dehydrated, he will not be allowed to practice or play until he is properly hydrated. In addition, players must now wear pads that are designed to wick away sweat and keep the body cooler.

In the event of a heatstroke, quick action is crucial. A player with a body temperature of 104 degrees or higher will begin to experience confusion, dizziness and vomiting. If treatment is not administered immediately, organ damage can occur and the player can die. Players and staff are now trained in how to identify the symptoms of heatstroke and proper treatment protocols.

Better Conditioning

In recent years, the NFL has been mired in controversy surrounding player safety. A main point of debate has been whether or not players are properly conditioned to prevent on-field deaths.

To date, there have been a total of seven NFL player deaths that have occurred during a game or practice. The most recent was in 2018, when Miami Dolphins linebacker Kyle Williamsh collapsed and died after suffering a heatstroke during practice.

In order to prevent further tragedies, the NFL has implemented various rules and regulations surrounding player safety and conditioning. These include mandatory hydration breaks, limiting contact practices, and prohibiting players from wearing certain types of equipment during games.

While these steps may help to reduce the risk of player fatalities, the ultimate goal is to eliminate them altogether. To that end, the NFL is constantly working with medical experts to ensure that its players are as safe as possible.

Conclusion

No NFL player has died on the field since 1993, when Buffalo Bills wide receiver James Hardy died during a preseason game. However, there have been several other deaths in recent years that have been indirectly related to football.

In November of 2013, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Larry Grant died of a drug overdose. In September of 2014, former NFL player Anthony Pierce died after suffering a heart attack while playing in a charity game. And in April of 2015, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe died of an apparent drug overdose.

So while no NFL player has died on the field in over 20 years, there have been several deaths in recent years that can be indirectly attributed to football.