Has Any NFL Player Ever Died On The Field?

Find out if any NFL players have ever died on the field, and learn about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Introduction

In November 2013, Kevin Turner, a former NFL fullback for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, was diagnosed with ALS. He died in March 2016 at the age of 46. Turner’s death raised awareness of the potential for long-term health problems associated with playing football.

Since 1900, there have been more than 100 deaths associated with high school, college and professional football players sustaining head and neck injuries while playing the game. According to research published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, there were 54 football fatalities between July 1990 and June 2010.

The vast majority of those killed were high school players (42), followed by college players (9), while 3 were professional players. Forty of the 54 deaths were attributed to traumatic brain injuries, while the other 14 died as a result of spine or spinal cord injuries.

History of NFL Players Dying on the Field

Yes, there have been quite a few NFL players who have tragically died on the playing field. Some of them died due to head injuries, some due to heart conditions, and some due to other injuries. This article will briefly touch on the history of NFL players who have died on the field.

Chuck Hughes

Chuck Hughes is the only NFL player to die on the field during a game. He suffered a heart attack while playing for the Detroit Lions in 1971.

Bert Bell

Bert Bell was the NFL commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. He is credited with helping to save the league after World War II and is considered one of the most important figures in NFL history. He died of a heart attack while watching a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Reggie Fleming

Reggie Fleming (March 17, 1942 – October 5, 2009) was an American professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Fleming was also a member of the United States men’s national ice hockey team at the 1964 Winter Olympics.

During his NHL career, Fleming amassed 1,241 penalty minutes in 734 regular season games. In 57 playoff games, he added another 201 penalty minutes. His career playoff total ranks him 38th all-time among NHL leaders. He twice finished in the top ten for penalty minutes in a single season and once led his league in penalty minutes while playing for the minor league Quebec Aces during the 1967–68 AHL season.

Fleming’s physical style of play led to several injuries during his career. In 1966, he suffered a concussion after being hit from behind by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Kent Douglas. The hit caused Fleming to fall face first onto the ice and knocked him unconscious. He was hospitalized for three days as a result of the injury.

J.V. Cain

On October 23, 1971, J.V. Cain of the St. Louis Cardinals was running a pass pattern during a game against the Los Angeles Rams when he was struck in the head by defensive back Tom Mack’s elbow. He died two days later in a hospital without regaining consciousness. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain.

Corey Stringer

On July 31, 2001, Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Corey Stringer died of complications from heat stroke during a practice session at the team’s summer camp. He is the only NFL player to die from heat stroke while practicing or playing in a game.

Conclusion

While there have been a number of NFL players who have died as a result of playing football, there has been only one death that occurred during an NFL game. This was in 1971, when Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed while running a route and died of a heart attack.