The 50 Most Brutal NFL Hits
Compiled by Ralph Warner
As promised in last week’s NCAA bonanza, we’re back like cooked crack to bring you the hardest hits in NFL history. After a seven-month break from NFL games that actually matter (sorry, preseason) the defending champ Pittsburgh Steelers are opening the 2009 NFL season tonight against the Tennessee Titans (8:30 p.m., NBC).
So while you kill time before kick-off, take a look at these vicious, agonizing, and gruesome hits—everything from classic DE blindsides to LB spine-twisters to even punters getting brolic with it. Click on for a tour of those game-ending (or season-ending, or even—word to Joe Theismann—career-ending) NFL hits that you crave…
50. LJ “hair tackles” Polamalu
HITTER: Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
VICTIM: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
WHEN: October 15, 2006
• With all the petty rules in the NFL, who knew grabbing by the hair to complete a tackle was actually legal? Johnson showed that he was going to take out Polamalu by any means necessary. Unbe-weave-able!
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CLICK NEXT TO SEE THE 49TH HARDEST HIT IN NFL HISTORY!
Big Doug From 172nd September 10, 2009 at 4:08 pm
ANOTHER CLASSIC. Kudos, Complex.
JayK September 10, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Love it, but L.T.’s hit should be number 1,Brown’s hit on Kim K’s beetch should be #3 and Grim Reapa’s hit on punter #2
DeShawn Stevenson September 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Chad Johnson’s interview is really really real. I think his brain was still moving.
B.dot September 10, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Interesting list. Ray Lewis destroyed Bam Morris,Eddie George, and McNair better than some hits on here but still good list
SkinsFav September 11, 2009 at 8:52 am
I am sorry but only 1 hit on the list from the Late Great Sean Taylor either makes me believe you don’t even watch football, or you are a woman.
Thom Pate September 11, 2009 at 8:56 am
If the Corwin Brown hit on Keyshawn Johnson (2000) isn’t in your top 5 (let along top 50), then you need to stop watching soccer.
Don'tDogitVick September 11, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Complex Editor: “I got it, after we post the most Brutal College Football hits, we could do the CFL…i mean NFL.”
Complex Intern: Genius!
Complex Editor: “I hope youtube has the one..ya know where the guy becomes a cripple, nearly dies and can’t play football amymore.”
Complex Intern:”If youtube has it where does it go?”
Complex Editor:”Don’t put it in the top ten, that would look bad, put it at like…37.”
Complex Intern:”Ok, FYI we just got 10 more cease and desist emails from notices@nfl.com.”
Complex Editor:”Unbe-weave-able!”
blackdickwhitman! September 11, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Don’t ever change!
cek September 11, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Not one clip of the awesome hits from Chuck Cecil. WTD?
JB September 11, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Chuck Cecil put dicks in the dirt SON, he needs to be recognized. He was fined more than his paycheck, that’s how you hit people. His brain may be pudding at this point from the concussions, but good gravy he hit people.
dixonticon September 12, 2009 at 5:05 am
Please, so you picked 4-5 hits that occurred more than 10 years ago. I’m too young to have seen “Night Train” Lane play, but how do you not include even 1 hit by a guy that hit so hard that he concussed *himself* a couple of times. LT *fell* on top of an old fart and *that* was his best hit?
busyt September 13, 2009 at 3:22 pm
dammnnnnnn…..RIP Sean Taylor
Revolve September 14, 2009 at 10:05 am
looks like his hand just got tangled in his hair, i dont put it pass him but i dont think it was on purpose this time.
Fleur De Lis September 16, 2009 at 12:28 am
The punter hits are my favorite. this was a fun list. I didn’t see them all because of the individual pages for each one but the ones i did see were pretty darn good and not the same old compilation with different music ive seen a thousand times.
INOA September 18, 2009 at 12:49 am
Bullshit. The most brutal NFL hit was when Steve Atwater leveled Cristian Okoye
Adam December 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Totally agree. Bu!!SH17 list without that hit. Not eve top 50?!?!?
Honkey September 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Man you forgot to mention he got up and scored a td and the saints spanked the eagles just like they gonna do on sunday !
andyb September 18, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Nothing i hate more than a cocky fan. It was the lions dude! Bush was a bust.
Milliondollamindz September 20, 2009 at 2:34 am
Dam Kyle this ain’t the Big Ten ?
Rj September 26, 2009 at 11:11 am
I Think Sean Taylors Hit On Brian Moorman Should Have Been #1
DrAnguish December 29, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Good list… but there’s one hit that got left off the list that should *easily* be in the top 10. Tony Bua from the Miami Dolphins versus the Rams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzalIIrmti8&feature=PlayList&p=F044D060EF8EBF3A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
Hit happen about the :17 second mark. He launches himself and absolutely decleates the Rams player. If I remember correctly the guy went to the hospital… possibly collapsed lung from this power of this hit…
DrAnguish December 29, 2009 at 2:04 pm
(continued) hit happens at about :17 seconds. Bua launches himself and totally decleates the Rams player. Sent him to the hospital… collapsed lung maybe?
skullman December 30, 2009 at 8:23 pm
this list is preety good alot of lame shots, dick butkus had more damaging hit in 7+ yrs. than alot of these. but the most brutal hit i v’e ever seen was wally chambers (bears) vs lynn bodden (lions) late 70’s they had to carry both off the field on strechers