Famous Athlete Injuries That Changed Sports
Some injuries are remembered for decades because of what they ended, what they revealed or how they changed the rules. These are the moments fans never forgot.
In this article
Injuries are part of every sport, but a few become historic. Some ended careers at their peak, some were endured in ways that became legend, and some forced leagues to rethink how they protect athletes. This list focuses on injuries that left a lasting mark on American sport and the people who follow it.
Injuries that ended or changed careers
Joe Theismann (1985)
Washington quarterback Joe Theismann suffered a compound leg fracture when he was sacked by Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football in November 1985. The replay became one of the most infamous images in NFL history, and Theismann never played again. The injury is often cited as one reason teams began to value left tackles, who protect a right-handed quarterback's blind side, so highly.
Bo Jackson (1991)
Bo Jackson was a star in both the NFL and MLB when he injured his hip on a routine-looking tackle in a playoff game in January 1991. The injury led to avascular necrosis and later a hip replacement. He returned to baseball for a few seasons, but his football career was over, and fans still wonder what the most gifted two-sport athlete of his era could have become.
Derrick Rose (2012)
The youngest MVP in NBA history tore his ACL in the first game of the 2012 playoffs. Rose missed the following season and was never quite the same explosive player again, although he rebuilt a long and respected career.
Kevin Durant (2019)
Durant ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals after returning from a calf injury. He missed the entire next season, then came back to play at an All-Star level, which was rare for an Achilles injury at the time.
Playing through pain
Kerri Strug (1996)
At the Atlanta Olympics, gymnast Kerri Strug landed her final vault on a badly injured ankle to help the US women win team gold. Her coach carried her to the medal podium, one of the most famous images in Olympic history.
Tiger Woods (2008)
Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in a playoff while playing with a torn ACL and stress fractures in his leg. He had surgery days later and missed the rest of the season.
Kobe Bryant (2013)
Bryant tore his Achilles in April 2013, then stayed on the court to shoot and make both free throws before walking off. The moment became a symbol of his competitive drive.
Injuries that changed the rules
Concussions in football
No single play changed football as much as the growing understanding of concussions and their long-term effects. Research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former players led the NFL and college football to introduce concussion protocols, independent neurological consultants on the sidelines, new helmet standards and rules against hits to the head.
Damar Hamlin (2023)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday night game in January 2023. Medical staff restarted his heart on the field, and the game was suspended. Hamlin recovered and returned to play, and the incident brought national attention to emergency action plans, CPR training and access to defibrillators at youth and high school games.
Alex Smith (2018)
Washington quarterback Alex Smith broke his leg in 2018 and developed a life-threatening infection that required many surgeries. His return to the field in 2020 was one of the most remarkable comeback stories in sports medicine.
Quick comparison
| Athlete | Sport | Year | Injury | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Theismann | Football | 1985 | Compound leg fracture | Career ended |
| Bo Jackson | Football / baseball | 1991 | Hip injury | Football career ended |
| Kerri Strug | Gymnastics | 1996 | Ankle | Olympic team gold |
| Tiger Woods | Golf | 2008 | Torn ACL, stress fractures | Won the U.S. Open anyway |
| Derrick Rose | Basketball | 2012 | Torn ACL | Changed his career path |
| Kevin Durant | Basketball | 2019 | Ruptured Achilles | Returned at an elite level |
| Damar Hamlin | Football | 2023 | Cardiac arrest | Boosted CPR and AED awareness |
What these injuries taught sport
Modern sports medicine has made many once career-ending injuries survivable. Torn ACLs and Achilles tendons are still serious, but surgical techniques and rehabilitation now return many athletes to their previous level. The biggest change, though, has been in prevention and emergency response: concussion rules, better equipment and trained medical teams at games are the real legacy of these famous moments. For a look at which sports demand the most from the body, read our ranking of the hardest sports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous injury in sports history?
Joe Theismann's broken leg on Monday Night Football in 1985 is often named the most infamous, because millions watched it live and the replay became iconic.
Did Tiger Woods win a major with a broken leg?
Yes. He won the 2008 U.S. Open while playing with a torn ACL and stress fractures in his leg.
What happened to Damar Hamlin?
He suffered cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023, was resuscitated on the field, recovered and later returned to play.
Can athletes come back from an Achilles tear?
Many do. Recovery usually takes about a year, and some athletes, such as Kevin Durant, have returned at an elite level.