SUMMARY
- The NFL might suffer injuries during the match.
- However, some of the injuries that they suffered have ended their careers.
Despite having exceptional talent, potential, and caliber, many players can never rise to expectations because of injury, a cryptic lifestyle, or other reasons. In the NFL, fans have seen multiple highly talented players wasted just because of injury-related issues throughout the years.
Ending in such a brutal way is no less than a nightmare for any player. Leighton Vander Esch is currently serving as a free agent after being released by the Dallas Cowboys due to a neck injury that may have led to the end of his career at the age of 28.
TRAGIC… Trent Williams dirty block in the back on Leighton Vander Esch appears to have ended his pro football career.
Just awful 😔
pic.twitter.com/5BND42i7dc— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 15, 2024
This is not the first time the linebacker has suffered a neck injury since joining the league; Esch has been the victim of several neck injuries. However, the last injury against the San Francisco 49ers in October proved to be too serious. And if the linebacker cannot recover, then NFL fans will again witness a golden talent being wasted due to health concerns. The top 5 NFL stars whose careers ended due to injuries are listed below.
1. Chris Borland
Chris Boland probably had the shortest career in the NFL, appearing in the league for just one season. The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the 2014 NFL draft as the third-round 77th pick. Borland was an exceptional player in his college career and pretended to be a big name in the NFL.
However, his career ended too early due to numerous injuries, and the exact number of times the linebacker suffered injuries is unclear. Borland retired by stating that whatever he had researched and experienced wasn’t worthy of continuing to play at high risk.
2. Kylie Fitts
Kyle Fitts has had a better career than Borland. Fitts was the Chicago Bears’ sixth-round, 181st pick. Besides playing for the Bears, the former linebacker played two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Reports claim Fitts suffered from several head collisions, and due to this reason, the linebacker decided to quit the game just after three seasons at the age of 27.
During the last season of his career, the former linebacker suffered a serious injury and was placed on the list of injured players. Before making the heartbreaking decision, Fitts consulted with his family and doctors.
3. Jordan Reed
Jordan Reed is a former tight end for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. Reed played in the NFL for eight years, from 2013 to 2020. The tight end played the majority of his career for the Redskins, and a transfer to the 49ers finished his career.
Reed, in his entire career, suffered from several concussions, which forced the tight end to quit the game too early. In eight years, Reed’s significant achievements include an appearance in the Pro Bowl and the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
4. Ali Marpet
Ali Marpet was a guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2015 to 2021. He retired after suffering from severe concussions, although it was initially expected that the Bucs guard would return to the league after Tom Brady’s request.
Unfortunately, the reality was something else, and Marpet was worried about his health issues. Marpet retired at the age of 28 when he was in his prime. In his three seasons with the Bucs, Marpet won one Super Bowl, appeared in the 2021 Pro Bowl, and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
5. Luke Kuechly
Luke Kuechly is one of the biggest names in the NFL, and the early ending of his career broke the hearts of many fans. Luke Kuechly spent eight years with the Carolina Panthers, which established him as one of the most promising talents in the league. Spectators have massive expectations from him, but severe injuries forced the linebacker to call for an early exit.
In 2012, Kuechly was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and in 2013, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. From 2013 to 2019, the linebacker secured his place in seven Pro Bowl. Despite spending such a short period, Kuechly’s achievements were way more than those of many players in the league, and losing him so early was indeed a significant loss.
