Has Anyone Died In The NFL?

A former NFL player died after a heatstroke in 2001. Since then, there have been no reported deaths from NFL players during regular season games.

NFL Injuries

Football is a dangerous sport. People get hurt playing football all the time. But, has anyone actually died while playing in the NFL? The answer might surprise you. Let’s take a look.

Concussions

Concussions are perhaps the most well-known type of injury in the NFL, and for good reason. Concussions can occur when a player is hit in the head with a hard object, such as another player’s helmet or elbow, or when they suffer a blow to the head that causes their brain to move around inside their skull. Concussions can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, and even unconsciousness. In some cases, concussions can lead to long-term problems such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a degenerative brain condition that has been linked to depression, dementia, and even suicide.

CTE

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in dozens of former NFL players. The disease, which can only be diagnosed after death, is believed to be caused by repeated hits to the head.

So far, CTE has been found in the brains of more than 100 former NFL players. Some of the better-known cases include:
-Mike Webster (Hall of Fame center)
-Junior Seau (Pro Bowl linebacker)
-Ken Stabler (Pro Bowl quarterback)
-Aaron Hernandez (former Patriots tight end)

CTE has also been found in the brains of other football players, including high school and college players.

Broken bones

One of the most feared injuries in any sport is a broken bone. A broken bone in the NFL can range from a small crack to a complete fracture, and depending on the bone, the surrounding muscles, and ligaments, can sideline a player for weeks or even months. While most broken bones will heal with time and rest, some may require surgery to repair the damage.

The most common bones to break in the NFL are the arm ( including the wrist and hand), leg ( including the ankle and foot), and collarbone. While these fractures can occur during any type of play, they are most often seen during tackling drills or during game play when players are hit hard or fall awkwardly.

Players who have had previous breaks or who have weakened bones due to other injuries are at an increased risk for re-injury. Some players may also be more susceptible to fractures due to their body size or composition. For example, players who are taller and have longer limbs may be more likely to suffer arm fractures, while larger players may be more susceptible to leg fractures.

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent all fractures, there are some steps that NFL teams take to help reduce the risk of injury. These include using padded gloves during practices, ensuring that tackling dummies are properly set up, and using proper techniques when tackling or blocking. Players can also help protect themselves by wearing properly fitting equipment and staying in good condition both physically and mentally.

NFL Deaths

Although there have been no NFL deaths in recent years, there have been a number of player deaths in the past. In 1920, there were 14 player deaths. That number rose to 26 in 1921, and then to 33 in 1922. The numbers began to decline after that, but there have been a number of player deaths over the years.

Car crashes

Car crashes are the leading cause of death in the NFL, accounting for nearly a third of allplayer fatalities. From 1920 to 2014, there were 234 NFL deaths from car crashes, according to research by the website FiveThirtyEight. That’s an average of nearly seven per year.

The most common type of car crash among NFL players is the single-vehicle crash, which often happens when a player loses control of his car, FiveThirtyEight’s research shows. These types of accidents accounted for nearly 60 percent of all NFL player fatalities from 1920 to 2014.

One notable example is the death of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Marvin Golden in 2001. Golden was killed when he lost control of his SUV and hit a tree. He was 26 years old.

Two other popular causes of death among NFL players are homicides and suicides. From 1920 to 2014, there have been 79 homicides and 43 suicides involving NFL players, according to FiveThirtyEight’s research.

Heart conditions

Heart conditions are the leading cause of NFL player deaths, accounting for almost one-third of all fatalities. In most cases, the cause is an underlying heart condition that went undetected during the player’s physical examination. Other causes include heat stroke, stomach ulcers, and head injuries.

The NFL has made a number of changes to try to reduce the number of player deaths, including instituting a mandatory pre-season physical exam and increasing the number of on-field medical personnel. However, some experts believe that more needs to be done to protect players, particularly those with underlying heart conditions.

Drug overdoses

Since 1970, more than 200 NFL players have died, most of them from natural causes. But of late, a disturbing trend has emerged: a growing number of NFL players have died from drug overdoses.

According to a recent study by the Washington Post, at least seven NFL players have died from drug overdoses since 2016. That’s more than double the rate of fatal drug overdoses among all Americans aged 20 to 29.

The drugs involved in these overdoses include opioids like fentanyl and OxyContin, as well as cocaine and alcohol. In some cases, players were taking multiple drugs at once.

One of the most recent examples is former Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, who died in 2004 after crashing his car while fleeing police. A subsequent autopsy revealed that Strzelczyk had traces of marijuana, alcohol, amphetamines and painkillers in his system at the time of his death.

The NFL has been slow to address this issue, but it has begun to take some steps in recent years. In 2017, the league implemented a new policy that requires players to be tested for drugs before the season begins. Players who test positive for banned substances can be suspended for up to four games.

The NFL has also partnered with the National Institutes of Health to fund research on pain management and opioid abuse. And last year, the league donated $1 million to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

But many experts say much more needs to be done to address this growing problem. Some have called on the NFL to do more to educate players about the dangers of drug abuse, and others have suggested that teams should do more to support players who are struggling with addiction.