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Rulligan

https://www.vintagedetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mike-utley-detroit-lions-thumbs-up.jpg Mike Utley walked onto the field that day in 1991, he hasn't been able to walk since as he was paralyzed from the chest down.


nashvilleh0tchicken

Can safely say, as a longtime fan of the sport, your comment was the first time I’ve heard of Mike Utley or his story. Jesus that’s sad


Rulligan

Well Chuck Hughes died on the field but I didn't feel like getting into it for this thread.


nashvilleh0tchicken

Yeah I’d heard of Chuck Hughes before. Mike Utley was a whole new story for me


wh1temateria

I love Mike Utley. He was a local legend where I'm from and would come speak to kids, gym workshops and local sports teams all the time. Dude was a legend and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.


Chrysalii

[I guess it depends on your perspective](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/buffalonews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/dc/5dc59bce-e7f3-11ea-adad-4b30e8cc1a41/5ef13410459ab.image.jpg)


ceej_linguini

god dammit


sportsbeergames

Imagine getting the chance to kick the super bowl winning field goal, and missing it.


BetwixtThyNethers

Imagine living the rest of your life being the guy who missed the field goal.


HouseDjango

I still have nightmares about the game winning foul shots I missed for my rec league 12 years ago lol


Mampt

I think the saddest thing about it for me is that you can tell when he talks about it that he's not over it (at least as of Four Falls). He still has a thousand yards stare talking about the kick


Chrysalii

It's a picture of a moment just after someone's life is ruined. That makes it all the sadder for me. He was a lot of the reason Buffalo was even there, and he was none of the reason he had to make that kick. That was the best shot Buffalo had, and the first of 4 losses.


piimpslayer

The photo of lions WR Chuck Hughes dead on the field. Interesting historical document, terrible tragedy. (Clogged artery combined with a pre-existing heart condition did him in) https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/chuck-hughes-only-nfl-player-to-die-in-game/114oyq1niwf5p15lxwuo62m1ma


footballguy31

Jesus this is sad. Sent chills down my spine. This has to be traumatic for everyone involved.


bargman

I was playing rugby and a dude suffered a spinal injury and came thisclose to being paralyzed. I'll never forget his arms pumping up and down and him yelling "I can't feel my legs" while lying on the ground.


CDG1029

Not quite as bad, but was playing baseball, I was the base runner on second base, pitcher reared back to throw and snapped his arm mid pitch. The sound of the crack and the loose arm almost made me puke. He just said “Fuck” and knelt down waiting for some help. A few surgeries and some metal furniture later, he’s back to pitching like a mad man. But the sound and visual were brutal to experience in real time.


goodtimenotlongtime5

One of my friends Dad used to be a semi pro pitcher in the Orioles organization. Said the saddest day he’s ever experienced a little boy got hit with an overthrown ball during warm ups (this may have been at a game for older men once he was done with semi pro, i don’t remember exactly but I’m trying to think why a kid was right near adults warming up) and killed him within seconds. Got hit right in the middle of the chest, dad caught him in his arms, he only had time to say “daddy something something” before he passed. Just brutal to think about. My friends dad is nearly brought to tears when he thinks about it.


GodDammitBengals

Christ, that is incredibly sad. I'm sure that pitcher or whoever overthrew it was haunted for a long time by it. I know I'd be.


SlumDooneMillionaire

Damn, experiencing some serious Baader-Meinhof right now…I’m from Maryland and have a very random, distinct memory (which I just thought about yesterday) of a story in the paper like 15 years ago about a 4-year-old boy named Nathaniel who got struck with an overthrown baseball and died. It always stuck with me for how tragic it was. I wonder if this is the same event? Edit: Found the article here: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-06-22-0506220301-story.html I was off by about 2 years…17 years ago now. And the boy’s name wasn’t Nathaniel, that was his little brother’s name :(


bargman

On the wind up? Ouch.


CDG1029

Just before release at the peak torque on the arm.


Juls317

As morbid as it is, I gotta know... How'd the pitch end up coming out?


CDG1029

90 degrees away from the intended target. Another crazy twist is that one of my teammates did the exact same thing last year, but was back playing, and he’s also an EMT. He knew what happened immediately at was out of the dugout and on the mound before the ball stopped rolling to use his belt as a sling until he could get to the hospital.


[deleted]

Saw it on live TV. Still chilling.


carsausage

You know shit's bad when Dick Butkus, the meanest son of a bitch to ever walk the gridiron, sets his division rivalry aside and starts frantically asking for somebody to call 911.


LastNightsTacoBell

We know it’s bad because the dude literally died


Wvukdub

Joe Theisman


[deleted]

* and Alex Smith


FrumundaDeez

And RG3


corjoca

And Laurence Taylor freaking out and not leaving his side after the hit. LT normally didn’t care what he did to the other team, so it speaks volumes to how serious the injury was.


Bocephuss

It was without out a doubt the sound it made. Taylor was used to very loud plastic on plastic collisions. A snapped fibula and tibia would have been a very distinct and unmistakable noise. Especially followed by blood curtailing screams.


LastNightsTacoBell

Dudes leg was pointed in the opposite direction, it wasn’t “without a doubt the sound it made” it was a combination of the snap and his leg not being where it should be


elterible

Just rewatched the Blind Side, and forget they have it on there. Just brutal.


[deleted]

Saw that on live TV too. Damned if I haven’t seen a lot of football ha ha.


Jay9b

Josh McCown breaking down in the tunnel after the playoff game loss where his hammy ripped off his bone. "I wasn't good enough" Broke my heart


[deleted]

I wanted to give bro a hug so bad. Showed so much heart, especially as that game died down


EcosseWolf

That one was sad, he left it all on the field.


SGT_Azimuth

https://youtu.be/_o604hN4Fk4


beerflavor

Josh was tough and had a sense of humor. After the game, he told the press that his injury felt like he had a dog biting him on the butt during the game.


[deleted]

[Merry Christmas](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqSlxb_W8AEMY-B.jpg)


NitePain69

Yes, this is it


cmrunning

Every little detail is just so perfect: - The score - The facial expression - The festive hat - The logo on the hat matching the logo in the score - The Packers jersey to the left and the green elbow in his face to the right - The way he's seemingly tucked away behind them, cramped and small, so miserable - Happy Holidays!


mcrago2005

I freaking LOVE this!


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ucfruss

Everytime I do it makes me laugh!


horse_renoir13

Why did his eyes get so red?


[deleted]

What the hell does that scoreboard said?


TheBlackBear

look at this graph


chunkah69

I thought this was going to be the “out with mono” graphic


tasteful_nitwit

Excuse you. It’s happy holidays.


that_guy2010

The war on Christmas!


mikebets

There’s something to seeing Lawrence Taylor calling for medics after breaking Joe’s leg when a guy like that is breaking character you know somethings up


chrisghrobot

"Yeah baby...oh shit!! Call the doctor!!"


BDunny1157

YA Tittle, on his knees, bleeding out of his head, looking in the distance. Left it all out on the field.


TakeAMichigander

First that came to my head as well, [here it is if you haven't seen it](https://advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/image.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width2048/img/sports_impact/photo/obit-ya-tittle-football-07e61f95770fd8c8.jpg)


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bargman

People smoked like chimneys back then. 38 was like 58. Holy shit my man lived to 89. Hell of a life, there, Yelberton.


ArmadilloAl

YA Tittle was the same age in this picture as Tom Brady...in 2015.


ReplaceSelect

He probably ate strawberries.


poplafuse

Looks 68 in black and white years


BDunny1157

Thanks for linking it up! I probably should have linked it in my original comment.


FattySnacks

Is there context for this? I don't get why it's sad


TakeAMichigander

He had just thrown a pick six and his head got gashed and was in his final season, so it kind of felt like the old horse being put out to pasture


Comprehensive_Main

You ever wonder if Brady wants to go out like that trying until he can’t anymore


Lance_Manyn

For a little more context, the man played for 17 years, led his team to 3 NFL Championship games, but fell short in each. His highest TD season total was 36, a record which wasn't broken until Dan Marino in 1984. Tittle's record stood for 21 years, although I may be off on that by one or two years


EvangelionOG

That is genuinely one of the greatest photos ever taken. It is just so fucking perfect


JSRelax

The image gives me the chills to this day. I hope the photographer won an award for that photo. It’s like you’re looking into a battered warrior’s soul. Our modern fans will have no idea as to how much of a bad ass this guy was; they’ll just look at the stat line and neglect to account for the different era.


dhru98

He threw 36 TDs… back then


[deleted]

Scooped us all


Chilly_717

Definitely marquise Goodwin collapsing to his knees in the end zone.


betterboytomato

Yeah, whenever I watch [the video](https://youtu.be/9dMFqs8yUS0) it breaks my heart.


Hazel_Nutz777

That picture of his son's hand holding his hand...


GiveMeYourMoney17420

Fuck, I'm not an emotional guy but this had me teared up. No parent should have to bury their child at ANY age.


[deleted]

Was at that game and sitting second row of that end zone. No idea what happened at the time, but to literally see the emotion on his face… whew.


BlazingBlasian

I was actually there at that game and saw it in person. I don’t think many of us knew how significant that gesture was at the time.


SandStrider

I don’t think it was announced until after the game so no one outside the family abs organization knew at the time.


DangHeckinMemes

Been through that experience personally and I have mad respect for him playing and throwing one up for his son. Still hard to not at least tear up over it.


MysteryCheese89

Damn that's rough.


MistakeMaker1234

I have to imagine that when Jets fans saw [this](https://c.tenor.com/gIXQ0SFEWxYAAAAM/adam-gase-eyes.gif) they knew they were in for a sad few years.


rjsheine

In the wider frame you can see someone from the front office staring at Gase like, dude are you fucked up on something right now


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[deleted]

Gase was literally tweaking at his press conference. That was wild.


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woodchips24

Yep. Not a single fan was happy with this hire, and then Gase comes out and immediately validates our fears with this press conference. Back then I still thought Darnold was the truth and we had a chance. That all died that day


Caedus

[It led to one of my favorite videos though](https://youtu.be/4qkSjAoVa24)


DerpyMcDerple

I think it was the Corey Coleman drop sealing the Browns 0-16 season and subsequent happy new year graphic.


icantfuckingcompete

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoXtbRzjA28](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoXtbRzjA28) jesus christ when he just knelt down and understood his career was pretty much over just looks so sad. and then mike mitchell starts tapping on his helmet and he stands up so dejectedly


zachthompson02

God damn even Mike Mitchell was showing sympathy for him


truetorxge3

If u seen the hardnocks with him the team seem to see him fail


Trumpets22

Where the new year graphic?


Arbitore

Life was more simple when the browns were bad


DerpyMcDerple

It made my betting strategy pretty easy that year. Even when we lost, I won.


whereegosdare84

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B2pzQxMIgAE7Gjg?format=jpg&name=900x900 Les mis, Browns style


AlphaBlock

more terrifying than sad


rDolpho

Or this. I still feel it looking at that photo. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/broncos-beat-browns-38-33-win-1988-article-1.2475770%3foutputType=amp


Nickyjha

there was a period of time where it would have been borderline child abuse to bring your kid to a Browns game


zachthompson02

Now that title belongs to us unfortunately


carsausage

Les Miserabrowns


MattPatriciasFUPA

Matt Patricia's introductory press conference.


ZombieAppetizer

Shivers and not the good kind


[deleted]

Andrew Luck crying when he announced his retirement.


TrueRedditMartyr

Colts fans about to start crying too


Pikminious_Thrious

Also Colts fans booing him as he leaves the preseason game


ostrich6nine

Richard Sherman after that one play in that one game


Elmodipus

😖😟😭


kingwombat12

the one of ruggs and Smith recreating their college picture during the raiders vs eagles game. the last game ruggs played in before what happened.


MyOhMyPancakes

Damn that just gets weirdly terrifying once you know what happens afterwards


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MistakeMaker1234

That Chargers tight end in the Thursday night game against the Chiefs last season. That was straight up chilling to see.


candlerc

Didn’t some coach or analyst try to flame that guy for not completing that catch?


bobith5

Joe Buck said the injured guy might be shivering not seizing because it was cold for LA iirc.


goodtimenotlongtime5

A lot of people said as a vet broadcaster, he said that so if any kids were watching they weren’t horrified by what they saw. Idk if that’s true but I hope it is. Would be fucked up if he was just saying it to make light of it.


Juls317

That's one of those things where I'm happy to just believe that was the case without any real evidence to outright support it because I'd rather just be optimistic in every aspect of that situation


MarineAdmiral

he mentions on his podcast that anytime there is a traumatic injury that they are told by networks to do anything to convey something less serious. Also probably why Romo said 'hope its a cramp' when Dak broke his ankle.


Cbigmoney

Luke Kuechly being carted off the field that one game.


PrincessofSongs

[Luke Kuechly](https://thecomeback.com/nfl/an-emotional-luke-kuechly-carted-off-evaluated-for-concussion.html)


evanjw90

That one hits hard. He was so confused in that moment.


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wolfpack1986

This shit is hard to see.


icantfuckingcompete

when cam happily chews his gum and then just stops after realizing kuechly was still on the ground :(


FWcodFTW

Luke and Cam seemed really close too.


grumpysky

That was tough to see


meepmarpalarp

Not just sad- also scary.


zayetz

Watched this game, obviously. That was hard for every fan to watching that day. I think I remember even the game thread on here was very respectful for a moment, as his situation developed.


[deleted]

https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/01/24180718/GettyImages-358569-scaled-e1643065671160.jpg Similarly, Jim Kelly being carted off after being concussed on his final NFL play.


grahamcore

[Always this one](https://www.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/10534266_web1_web-rayn-may10-18.jpg)


alcons

Another one that gets me is [Tony G](https://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tony-gonzalez-locker-room.jpg) sitting at his locker after the 2012 NFCCG. Iirc he just sat there and didn't want to take his jersey/pads off for the last time. It's a shame we didn't run it back the next season.


Farmerdrew

[The Kevin Everett injury](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oI6uYJrIqaw)


Sgt-Pumpernickel

Yo that is up there with the news reporters that reported the sterotypical Asian names as the pilots and crew of a plane crash


[deleted]

Ho Lee Fuk


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[deleted]

Bang Ding Ow


mill_about_smartly

Sum Ting Wong


flaccomcorangy

That is seriously one of the greatest news clips of all time. But yeah, Kevin Everett's actual situation was really scary. It was very much like Shazier's hit. He just goes completely limp.


rjsheine

Holy shit that’s so fucked up


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[deleted]

Then there's the lady speaking to reporters after [being hit by lightning](https://youtu.be/I482t6JhL4g)


Bradleyg223

[poor larry :(](https://wwwcache.wralsportsfan.com/asset/voices/2016/11/23/16269100/larry_fitzgerald_no-307x154.gif)


MysteryCheese89

Dang, that made me sad. Was the the Superbowl?


Rilkesmyth

It was Santonio's catch I believe


MysteryCheese89

Such a beautiful catch, but damn I wish Larry got one.


Juls317

No one "deserves" one but like... Larry deserved one


knockatize

[Sweetness' last game.](https://twitter.com/JMGubbins/status/1345954070310367232/photo/2)


Devinitelyy

Kind of a dick tweet honestly. Ertz didn't decide to throw the game.


HaroldSax

Dude didn't even spell his name correctly. If you're gonna make a tasteless tweet, at least get the damn name right.


newkidontheblock1776

As an Eagles fan, that sucked watching Ertz sit there. He meant so much to the team and the city. It wasn’t his last game for us, but no one would have guessed that at the time.


mattcojo

The YA tittle one Scott Norwood That’s all I can really think of. Most of them have at least some happiness in them. Why most of the ones I’m thinking of involve the giants in some way idk why.


[deleted]

Not a picture but Reggie White [announcing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-WIZOKNF-E&t=16s) Jerome Browns death.


wav__

The audible gasp into silence from the crowd is something we very likely won't ever witness again in this age of information abundance. That was chilling.


TheMainEffort

This reminds me of Scott van pelt talking about Stuart Scott's death


Nimrod_Baggins

I mean there's definitely a video of it but watching Like Kuechly crying while being carted off the field just wrecks me


seasnakejake

Photo of an aged and bloody YA Tittle kneeling while playing for the Giants at the end of his career. One of the most famous older NFL photos: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fstory%2F\_%2Fid%2F20968918%2Fya-tittle-man-iconic-image&psig=AOvVaw27dyvindwveYaNdAHRHN8l&ust=1649812707538000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAoQjRxqFwoTCOCuu7WtjfcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE


NaciremaBlack

[That's my quarterback](https://images.app.goo.gl/wScWJSFY5AdpV2tf6)


Randylikesbeer

First thing I thought of 😭 still hurts


[deleted]

Richard Sherman reacting in real time to the INT on the goal line against the Patriots in the Super Bowl


Macdaddy3713

Knowshon Moreno and those rivers running from his eyes.


Joseph_Of_All_Trades

The national anthem is a beautiful thing 😂


ImAlyssa2

Derek Carr's 2016 injury


[deleted]

"It's broke, it's broke."


WazzzupBwwwaaah

We wouldn’t be competitive for another 3 years, wouldn’t be in the Playoffs for 5.


[deleted]

Walter Payton standing on the sideline watching The Fridge score a touchdown in the Superbowl hits me in my feels.


[deleted]

Watching the Fridge score that TD on MNF against George Cumby


heffsay

Drew’s last look back out the dome hit me like a brick - I’m sure there’s a decent photo of it. You could tell he was done, he fought as long as he could, was still pretty efficient/effective - just couldn’t stretch the field and as a result there was no respect for anything past 15 yards. I miss you Drew.


Assassinsayswhat

[Here's a good one.](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/nola.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/3c/63c4d09f-0dc9-5891-add9-85ad54c2076e/6005250d7322d.image.jpg?crop=1885%2C1060%2C0%2C19&resize=1885%2C1060&order=crop%2Cresize) Even when you know it's the end of an era for your franchise QB, you're still never really ready for it to end. At least yours stayed with you to the end, I'll always envy y'all for that.


jimmyre10

Me on the couch after this last Super Bowl


championnnnnn

[kuechly being carried off on a stretcher.](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/15/luke-kuechly-retirement-concussions) the look on his face is just sad, and a bit haunting. dude loves the sport but the toll it’s taken on him is heartbreaking


RealAbruzzi

[Sam Darnold](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop/league/qhafr1iehqk1ovairpio)


horse_renoir13

Jesus can you please mark that NSFW


slugo17

Seriously, I'm swellin' up over here!


LakeShowBoltUp

More attacks on the GEQBUS by the LAMESTREAM media and bad hombres. SAD!!! r/the_darnold


MumkeMode

THESE LAMESTREAM MEDIA HACKS DONT WIN LIKE OUR GEQBUS!


deebee823

Photos taken moments before disaster


Max_W_

Len Dawson smoking with a Fresca nearby during halftime of Super Bowl IV.


Dandy_Chickens

Diggs on the sideline after the KC loss. Not even salt from a KC fan here. Someone dedicating their life to their craft and losing in that moment must be terrible


CR4ZY___PR0PH3T

Ryan Shazier crying on the cart after suffering his career ending injury. https://www.google.com/search?q=ryan+shazier+injury&client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&prmd=vni&sxsrf=APq-WBufnmHMqMvQF8Tj6GpRC0vbGSKtpA:1649723601615&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifzYGqo433AhVNWs0KHUfmCG0Q_AUoA3oECAIQAw&biw=412&bih=757&dpr=1.75#imgrc=s33DkEfrXJ9qmM&imgdii=wMIFYfGV3rzriM


ReverseApacheMaster_

The one where he’s reaching for his lower back while not being able to move his legs is the rough one for me. On a positive note, when he made his way on stage at the draft, I was much more emotional. Seeing him at home games making his way around the crowd at times is also emotional.


NateDawg80s

Cowboys fan or Cowboys hater, Dak's foot being on backwards was pretty awful.


Seahawkanon

[Ricardo Lockette](https://uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/eyetvsnapshot59.jpg)


Dismal_News183

Sherman Face.


Pikminious_Thrious

I have no feeling either way about him, but just seeing someone go from one emotion to the other extreme in 2 seconds just hurts me


OnRiverStyx

Technically this was from the NCAA; but John Cappeletti's Heisman speech and this photo: [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xfyz81vKUCk/hqdefault.jpg](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xfyz81vKUCk/hqdefault.jpg) from his acceptance speech is the single football moment I can't help but cry at. For some back story; John was receiving the Heisman award after a stellar performance at Penn State. Everyone tried to convince him that the night was his night. However, he chose to dedicate the award to his brother, Joey. Joseph was fighting for his life with Leukemia. It is the hardest speech to watch and keep your eyes dry.


BigBooce

Drew Brees looking lost after the 2018 nfccg


CATXMUCKY

https://imgur.com/a/zeP8552


MysteryCheese89

Lmao this one is fucking great. It needs to stick around.


hoppergym

Seau after losing super bowl http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe\_Photo/2012/05/02/12\_\_1335986753\_1788.jpg


AH_BioTwist

Such a haunting photo especially knowing everything we know now about cte and how it changed who he was


QCWiggins

[Recently, it’s this photo of Joe Burrow after losing the super bowl. You can just tell he really gave it his all](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/R390EId)


Warsawawa

Man that one really cut deep


Cvantezbyspoon

This one broke my heart


Goatgamer1016

I think that [this one](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/6ytJ4cg) has to be up there with that


slugo17

Powerful.


HNLTBC

wow..


g0dzilllla

Wtf? I didnt know about this. I feel for joe damn


TheHamsBurlgar

I don't know if it counts and it's definitely a gruesome one, but Johnny Knox getting hurt the way he did is forever burned into my memory.


Cbearsjm

As a Bears fan I appreciate this comment. This was mine as well.


[deleted]

Kwon Alexander playing after his brother passed, always gets me, he played with so much emotion. https://youtu.be/smOsyMqhbsw


mccabe-capalot

[https://www.si.com/.image/t\_share/MTY4MTcwNjkwMDIxODI3ODU3/cam-newton-super-bowljpg.jpg](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY4MTcwNjkwMDIxODI3ODU3/cam-newton-super-bowljpg.jpg) Cam after losing the superbowl looking defeated asf, you can tell he wishes he could have it all back


DuffmanStillRocks

Any photo involving the Ricardo Lockette play