The quarterback position is the most important in football. If you disagree, just take a look at how many teams have watched their NFL seasons fall apart once their star quarterback goes down with a season-ending injury.
Over the years, many great quarterbacks suffered very scary injuries that looked career-ending. Some of them bounce back and return to form, but others can’t say the same.
Today, we present the ten nasty injuries suffered by NFL quarterbacks.
What gruesome injuries did these quarterbacks suffer during their NFL careers?
10. Andrew Luck’s Lacerated Kidney
After leading the Indianapolis Colts to the AFC Championship Game in 2014, Andrew Luck and company were a big-time favorite to win the Super Bowl. This star-studded team had just added future Hall of Famers Andre Johnson and Frank Gore in free agency, after all.
Unfortunately, the Colts’ offensive line couldn’t protect Luck. He took a bunch of hits, and as those hits piled up, they began to take their toll on the young quarterback.
After Luck led the Colts to an upset win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, it was reported that a lacerated kidney, which he suffered during the game, would keep him sidelined for several weeks. He didn’t return, and the Colts missed the postseason altogether.
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Luck returned for the 2016 season and had another stellar year, so at least the kidney laceration didn’t ruin his career.
9. Jim McMahon’s Shoulder
Overshadowed by the legendary ‘85 Chicago Bears defense, Jim McMahon was the quarterback of the Windy City team that defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 20.
The 1986 Pro Bowler was the ideal complement for a Chicago team that leaned mostly on their shutdown defense and legendary running back Walter Payton.
But during a 1986 home game against the rival Green Bay Packers, McMahon’s excellent season came to an end. Packers nose tackle Charles Martin delivered an ugly, cheapshot bodyslam on McMahon, and his shoulder went right into the turf.
That injury ruined McMahon’s NFL season, while Martin received a two-game suspension.
8. Joe Montana’s Elbow Injury
The San Francisco 49ers legend led the team to four Super Bowl championships in his illustrious career. Montana also won two MVP awards and was an eight-time Pro Bowler. Okay, you get the point; he’s arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.
A big hit from Leonard Marshall of the New York Giants forced Montana out of the 1990 NFC Championship game, which the 49ers lost.
Montana then suffered a gruesome elbow injury in a 1991 preseason game. He needed surgery and was ruled out for the season. Because Steve Young filled in nicely during his absence, Montana played just one game for the 49ers in 1992.
He got traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and enjoyed two more seasons there before retiring in 1995. The elbow injury thankfully didn’t end his career, but it certainly paved the way for his exit from San Francisco.
7. Tom Brady’s ACL Tear
Expectations were sky-high for the New England Patriots entering the 2008 season. After all, they were coming off an 18 and 1 season, having fallen JUST short of being the first 19 and 0 team in NFL history.
Unfortunately, Brady’s season ended in the early minutes of New England’s Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. After throwing a pass to Randy Moss, Brady tore his ACL while being pulled down by Bernard Pollard.
That ended his season, and though backup QB Matt Cassel came off the bench and led the Pats to an 11-win campaign, they still missed the playoffs. Brady returned to full force for the 2009 NFL season, thankfully avoiding a career-ending injury.
6. Robert Griffin III’s knee injuries begin
You all know this story. It’s a sad one.
Robert Griffin III was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in 2012. He won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and led them to the NFC East division title.
But in a Week 14 game, Griffin suffered a knee injury and hadn’t been fully cleared by Dr. James Andrews. Nonetheless, head coach Mike Shanahan decided to play Griffin for their Wild Card playoff game vs. the Seattle Seahawks.
Late in the game, Griffin suffered a brutal knee injury that forced him out of the game. The Redskins lost, and Washington was rightfully criticized for being careless with their young QB.
This was the start of many injuries for Griffin, who has hung around in the NFL strictly as a backup. If it weren’t for the mishandling of his knee problem, who knows what kind of career he would have had in DC?
5. Derek Carr’s Leg Fracture
2016 was a special year for the Oakland Raiders. Quarterback Derek Carr led them to a 12-win season and their first playoff berth in 14 years. The Raiders were vying for the AFC West title in their Week 16 home game. Perhaps that’s why Oakland kept Carr in the game during a blowout win over the Colts.
Sadly, the worst thing possible happened to Oakland. Carr suffered a broken fibula and missed the rest of the season. The Raiders were easily eliminated by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, and Carr hasn’t been the same player since that injury.
You can’t help but wonder what could have been had Carr not broken his leg.
4. Dan Marino Tears Achilles Tendon
There was plenty of hype around the Miami Dolphins entering the 1993 season. They were coming off a trip to the AFC Championship Game, and with quarterback Dan Marino still in his prime, there was big-time optimism in South Beach.
But in a Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns, Marino suffered a gruesome ruptured Achilles tendon that abruptly ended his season.
Miami managed to finish 9 and 7 and miss the playoffs. Had Marino avoided injury, perhaps the Dolphins would have gone on to win the Super Bowl.
3. Tony Romo’s Vertebra Fracture
A broken collarbone forced Tony Romo to miss all but four games in 2015, and the Dallas Cowboys predictably fell apart and missed the playoffs without him.
When Romo returned for the 2016 season, expectations were high for America’s Team. They just drafted running back sensation Ezekiel Elliott, after all.
But during Dallas’ third preseason contest against the Seattle Seahawks, Romo got hit from behind while trying to slide down. He suffered a compression fracture in the L1 vertebra, forcing him to miss most of the season.
Of course, rookie Dak Prescott took over as the starter, and he had a firm hold on the job by the time Romo returned. Tony played a bit in their meaningless Week 17 game, then decided to retire and take a color analyst job for CBS Sports, where he’s excelled.
But it’s a shame that his last two NFL seasons were completely taken away by injuries.
2. Alex Smith’s Broken Leg
Alex Smith was enjoying his first season with the Washington Redskins in 2018. He had them leading the NFC East division, proving that the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t the sole reason for his success.
But in Washington’s Week 11 home game vs. the Houston Texans, Smith was sacked by J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson. He fractured his right tibia and fibula, ending a promising season in DC.
A broken leg for a quarterback in his mid-30s is very scary, and we can only hope Smith will return to form one day. The next guy on our list played for the same team and sadly suffered the same injury on the same date.
1. Joe Theismann’s Broken Leg Ends Career
Joe Theismann spent a decade with the Washington Redskins and won the 1983 NFL MVP Award. He led them to a Super Bowl championship, he was a two-time Pro Bowler, and he threw for 25,206 yards in his career.
But in a 1985 game between the Redskins and New York Giants, Theismann’s career ended abruptly. Three G-Men – led by Lawrence Taylor – sacked Theismann, and he suffered a gruesome leg fracture as a result.
Taylor waved over emergency personnel quickly, and Theismann left the field, never to play football again. He fractured the tibia and fibula in his right leg. He opted to retire at the age of 36, which was probably the smart and safe call at the time.
