Has Anyone Ever Died In An NFL Game?

Many people are surprised to learn that there have been a number of deaths in NFL games over the years. While most of these have been due to natural causes, there have been a few instances of players dying on the field due to traumatic injuries. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable deaths in NFL history.

NFL Deaths

The National Football League has seen a total of thirteen deaths since its inception in 1920. Twelve of these deaths were due to on-field injuries, while the thirteenth was due to an undetected heart condition. Despite the NFL’s efforts to improve player safety, death is still a risk associated with playing the game.

Players

From 1920 to 2017, there have been a total of 252 deaths in the NFL. Of those 252 deaths, only seven have been caused by on-field injuries. The other 245 deaths were caused by various medical conditions, such as heart attacks and cancers.

The most recent on-field death occurred in 2016, when Pittsburg Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury against the Cincinnati Bengals. Interestingly, Shazier’s injury was not caused by contact with another player; rather, he was injured while making a tackle. This just goes to show that even non-contact injuries can be dangerous in the NFL.

While seven on-field deaths is certainly a tragedy, it’s important to remember that the NFL is not without its share of dangers. In fact, over the past few years, there have been a number of studies that have shown that playing in the NFL can lead to long-term health problems, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain condition that has been linked to dementia and suicidal thoughts.

So while it’s true that nobody has died from playing in an NFL game in over 50 years, that doesn’t mean that the sport is without its risks.

Fans

Deaths of fans at National Football League (NFL) games are extremely rare, with only a handful of documented cases. The most recent death occurred in 2018, when an 8-year-old boy was hit by a foul ball at an Houston Astros game.

In 2015, a man died after falling from the upper deck at an Atlanta Falcons game. In 2011, a girl died after being hit by a flying bat at an Arizona Diamondbacks game. And in 2008, a man suffered a heart attack and died after climbing into the stands to fight with another fan during an Oakland Raiders game.

These incidents are tragic, but they underscore how rare it is for someone to die while attending an NFL game. In fact, you are more likely to die from lightning strike than from any other risk associated with attending an NFL game.

Causes of Death

There have been a total of seventeen deaths in NFL games since 1970. The most common causes of death are heart conditions and head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term health problems, and in some cases, death. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of death in NFL games.

Injuries

In NFL history, there have been several gruesome and fatal injuries that have occurred on the playing field. Some of these injuries were due tomond collisions, while others resulted from players slipping or falling during the course of a game.

One of the most famous cases occurred in 1985, when Philadelphia Eagles player Randall Cunningham was tackled by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Cunningham suffered a compound fracture of his left leg and was sidelined for the rest of the season.

In 1999, Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Orlando Brown was hit in the eye by a penalty flag thrown by referee Jeff Triplette. Brown sustained severe damage to his right eye and was forced to retire from football.

During a game in 2004, Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett severely injured his neck while making a tackle. Everett underwent surgery and was paralyzed from the neck down. However, thanks to aggressive rehabilitation, he has since recovered most of his mobility.

Natural Causes

Players who have died from natural causes include:
-Frank Gifford, NFL Hall of Famer and former broadcaster, died of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at age 84 in 2015.
-Jim Marshall, NFL defensive lineman, died of colon cancer at age 77 in 2019.
-Andre Waters, NFL safety, died by suicide at age 44 in 2006.

Preventing Deaths

football is a dangerous sport.While there have been many advances in safety, the fact remains that football is a collision sport and injuries are bound to happen. However, there are measures that can be taken to help prevent serious injuries and death. In this article, we will discuss some of the steps that have been taken to help prevent deaths in NFL games.

Better Equipment

One way that the NFL has worked to prevent deaths in recent years is by mandating better equipment for players. In particular, they have focused on improving helmets and shoulder pads to help reduce the risk of injuries.

In addition to better equipment, the NFL has also implemented a number of rule changes that are designed to make the game safer. For example, they have banned certain types of hits and tackling that can lead to serious injuries.

Despite these efforts, there have still been a handful of deaths in NFL games in recent years. However, it is worth noting that the vast majority of these have occurred during preseason or practice games, rather than regular season games.

Better Training

Since the start of the National Football League in 1920, various measures have been taken to try and make the game safer for players. These have included changes to equipment, rule changes, and better training for players and personnel. Despite these efforts, there have unfortunately been a number of deaths during NFL games over the years.

One of the most notable occurred in 1971, when Cleveland Browns player Connie Mack Berry suffered a heart attack after a collision during a game. The exact number of deaths during NFL games is difficult to determine, as some may have gone unreported or been misclassified. However, it is clear that deaths during NFL games are rare occurrences.

The vast majority of these deaths have been due to underlying medical conditions, rather than injuries sustained during play. In many cases, the autopsy report indicated that the deceased had a pre-existing heart condition or other issue that likely would have resulted in death even if they had not been playing football.

While there is always risk inherent in any contact sport, the NFL has taken steps to try and minimize this risk as much as possible. With better training and awareness, it is hoped that the number of deaths during NFL games will continue to decrease in the future.

Conclusion

When it comes to player safety, the NFL has come a long way since its inception. However, that does not mean that fatalities have been completely eradicated from the game. Unfortunately, there have been a handful of deaths due to on-field injuries in NFL history.

Most recently, Buffalo Bills linebacker Kevin Everett suffered a severe spinal injury while making a tackle during a game in 2007. Despite extensive medical treatment, Everett was left paralyzed and died less than three years later.

In 1971, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of cardiac arrest during a game against the Chicago Bears. An autopsy later revealed that Hughes had an undiagnosed heart condition that contributed to his death.

These are just two of the more notable fatalities in NFL history. While players today are much better protected than their predecessors, the risk of death or serious injury is always present whenever they step onto the field.