Fineable or Clean? The Most Brutal Hits in NFL History

As the NFL gets softer, remember how rough it used to be with these insane hits.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Things change in the world, but there will always be constants. Water is wet. "Poison" fucks up the club. Football is only truly football with the hard, sometimes inhuman hits. Say what you want about concussions, nonsense rules that prevents the defense from doing its job, and the flags. Violence is in the nature of the game; pro football ceases to be pro football without it.

Whether it's through our love of athleticism or natural schadenfreude, brutal hits will never cease to entertain the football fanatics. That goes regardless if simply the wind gets knocked out of somebody or if there's a broken bone. It sounds sadistic when it's put that way, but hey, this is America's Sport, y'all. Very few hits on this list are as brutal as the one the NFL took because of the mix of lies and idiocy, but still. Watch, reminisce, and cringe with us as we present Fineable or Clean? The Most Brutal Hits in NFL History

Buffalo takes another L.

Not Available Interstitial

Bo knows.

Not Available Interstitial

A linebacker vs. a kicker = bad news.

Not Available Interstitial

The beef is real.

Not Available Interstitial

Lights out!

Not Available Interstitial

This is what happens when you collide with Ray Lewis.

Not Available Interstitial

Excuse me! Thank you!

Not Available Interstitial

Add some injury to insult.

Not Available Interstitial

Chris Henry gets lit up.

Not Available Interstitial

PETA would be proud.

Not Available Interstitial

Everything is bigger in Texas.

Not Available Interstitial

Chris Henry goes nowhere in a hurry.

Not Available Interstitial

Ray Lewis' block steals the show.

Not Available Interstitial

The hit that almost cost a player a limb.

Not Available Interstitial

Isiah Robertson got rammed.

Not Available Interstitial

The greatest block in NFL history happened before the creation of the Super Bowl.

Not Available Interstitial

Even the greats are vulnerable.

Not Available Interstitial

He put his team on his back, doe.

Not Available Interstitial

All pain, no gain.

Not Available Interstitial

Keep your head up, Chad. No, really.

Not Available Interstitial

Laid out.

Not Available Interstitial

So long, Joe.

Not Available Interstitial

One of the originators shows 'em how it's done.

Not Available Interstitial

There's a reason he's a Pro-Bowler.

Not Available Interstitial

Who's down for some fencing?

Not Available Interstitial

Crawl it off, son.

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Sports