The 50 Most Brutal Hits in NFL History

Image via Complex Original

Date: 10/29/2012
Victim: Early Doucet, Arizona Cardinals
Hit by: Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers

Goldson and Doucet had previous beef, so it makes sense that Goldson would go after him in a very rough way. He did it legally though with this blast of a hit. *waits for Goodell & Co. to somehow alter the rules again and make this hit illegal*

Date: 10/22/2006
Victim: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Hit by: Andre Carter, Phillip Daniels, Washington Redskins

You know the neck surgery that Peyton had that caused him to miss the entire 2011 season and was the reason why the Colts opted to let him go? Well, this is the hit that caused all of that. Broncos fans, rejoice!

Date: 12/16/2001
Victim: Tom Brady, New England Pariots
Hit by: Nate Clements, Buffalo Bills

Yeah, a young Tom Brady got laid out on this play. It happens to the best of them. Dude did go on to win three rings and wifed up Gisele. Safe to say he ended up doing alright for himself.

Date: 12/21/1980
Victim: Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles
Hit by: Dennis Thurman, Dallas Cowboys

Thanks to this hit, receivers learned to look both ways before catching the ball.

Date: 12/11/2005
Victim: Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
Hit by: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers

Not even the 6'4", 260-pound Urlacher can stop a moving vehicle.

Date: 8/17/2007
Victim: Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Hit by: Rodney Harrison, New England Patriots

In this preseason clip, Harrison shows that he doesn't care whether the game counts or not; if you have the ball, he's coming to get you.

Date: 8/20/2011
Victim: Donald Jones, Buffalo Bills
Hit by: Rahim Moore, Denver Broncos

*cues the soundtrack* 

Date: 10/26/2008
Victim: Clifron Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hit by: Sam Paulescu, Dallas Cowboys

Being that Paulescu was a back-up most of his career, this was definitely his best highlight.

Date: 9/23/2012
Victim: Matt Schaub, Houston Texans
Hit by: Joe Mays, Denver Broncos

This illegal hit would cost Joe Mays just one game and some dough (and by some dough we mean $50K), but you can't help feeling for a player that loses part of their ear.

Date: 1/5/2009
Victim: Tavaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings
Hit by: Chris Clemons, Philadelphia Eagles

When trying to take one for the team goes wrong. *Turns off the Pusha T and Kanye*

Date: Late '60s
Victim: Cleveland Browns RB
Hit by: Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears

For those young'ns who don't know, Dick Butkus was a bad motherfucker. #nuffsaid #watchandlearn

Date: 8/23/2009
Victim: Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
Hit by: Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants

Urlacher caught the wrong end of a violent B.J. Ayo! But seriously, guys like Jacobs made the great Bears linebacker call it quits a little earlier than expected.

Date: 1/14/2009
Victim: Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Hit by: Donte Whitners, San Francisco 49ers

Donte was neither penalized or fined for this play. Would this hit have been considered legal if it was delivered by James Harrison? Just sayin'...

Date: 10/17/2010
Victim: Mohamed Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns
Hit by: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

This is the type of hit will cost you $75,000 in today's NFL. Now who's got that kind of bounty money? We're looking at you, Jerry Jones...

Date: 9/9/2007
Victim: Kevin Everett, Buffalo Bills
Hit by: Domenik Hixon, Denver Broncos

Usually it's the player on the receiving end that ends up worse for wear. Kevin Everett, though, broke the conventional mold and was forced to put an end to his career after suffering a devastating spinal injury. Eventually, Everett was able to walk again, so luckily, there's a happy ending to this story.

Date: 1/25/1998, Super Bowl XXXII
Victim: Randy Hilliard, Denver Broncos
Hit by: Steve Atwater, Denver Broncos

Legendary headhunter Steve Atwater wanted to inflict pain on the Packers' Robert Brooks, but he ended up laying out his own teammate, Randy Hilliard. Depth chart bounties are real!

Date: 1/7/2007
Victim: Tim Carter, New York Giants
Hit by: Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Brian Dawkins played the majority of his career with the Eagles and attacked Darcy Johnson like dude was his prey. Maybe it's just us, but this looks like something straight out of the Discovery Channel.

Date: 12/21/2008
Victim: Two Miami Dolphins
Hit by: Damion McIntosh, Kansas City Chiefs

In case you didn't know, when an offensive lineman flattens a defender, it's called a pancake. After knocking over two small, helpless members of the Dolphins secondary, Damion McIntosh scored two pancakes. So, we gotta ask, which one would McIntosh actually prefer?

Date: 1/22/1989
Victim: Ickey Woods, Cincinnati Bengals
Hit by: Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers

Lott let Woods know early that he wouldn't be Ickey Shuffling on him in SB XXIII. Nope!

Date: 10/21/2007
Victim: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals
Hit by: David Barrett, New York Jets

In 2007, T.J. Houshmanzadeh set career numbers in receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,143). With the highs come the lows and T.J. found that out the hard way. But seriously, who would've thought the low would last for the rest of Housh's career?

Date: 1/18/2009
Victim: Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens
Hit by: Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers

During the 2009 AFC Championship Game, the Steelers' Ryan Clark took Willis McGahee out of the game and on a stretcher after this collision. A knockout hit in an all-important contest? Are we sure Gregg Williams isn't involved somehow?

Date: 9/23/2001
Victim: Drew Bledsoe, New England Patriots
Hit by: Mo Lewis, New York Jets

For over a decade, Tom Brady has been giving the Jets and their fans fits. But who would've thought that a former member of Gang Green would be responsible for Brady's arrival. Yet another reason why the Jets can only blame themselves for the years upon years of championship-less seasons.

Date: 11/26/2006
Victim: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Hit by: Bart Scott, Baltimore Ravens

Last year, Terrell Suggs said that he only exists so he could stop Ben Roethlisberger. Apparently, that mindset is shared between practically every Ravens defensive players, past and present. Bart Scott absolutely owned Big Ben on Nov. 11, 2006 when he capped off a Ravens' NINE sack performance with this monstrous hit.

Date: 10/19/2008
Victim: Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals
Hit by: Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Who said defensive players were the only ones who could lay out a player? Hines Ward absolutely obliterates Keith Rivers with this blindsided block and what does Ward get for cutting Rivers' rookie season short? A rule named after him, which made it illegal for blockers to land a blindside block using their helmet, forearm or shoulder, to strike at the head or neck area of a defender. So, uh, congratulations?

Date: 10/5/2008
Victim: Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills
Hit by: Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

We don't know what deserves a bigger FOH: Adrian Wilson getting fined a hefty $25K for this concussion-inducing hit on the Bills' Trent Edwards or the announcer saying that losing Edwards would be a big blow for then-Bills coach Dick Jauron.

Date: 11/20/1987
Victim: Brian Bosworth, Seattle Seahawks
Hit by: Bo Jackson, Los Angeles Raiders

So, this was it? This was the showdown between the two most hyped rookies of '87? The only thing we learned is that Bo knows carrying overrated linebackers into the end zone.

Date: Preseason 2007
Victim: Sav Rocca, Philadelphia Eagles
Hit by: Antwan Barnes, Baltimore Ravens

Even if it was linebacker versus kicker, this hit is still ridiculous. Welcome to the league, fam!

Date: 11/6/2007
Victim: Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens
Hit by: Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ward went down like a battering ram to destroy Reed. Too bad this tackle would be considered an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit today. SMH, the No Fun League has got to go back to the old days.

Date: 11/18/2007
Victim: Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers
Hit by: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sure, Shawne Merriman was on the end of a mean pancake block on this play but back in '07 he was on his way to a third straight Pro Bowl, but five years later he was out of the league all together. Remember kids, shit can always get 10x worse than it already is.

Date: 1/10/2009
Victim: Ahmard Hall, Tennessee Titans
Hit by: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

Despite being de-helmeted, Ahmard Hall got the first down and bounced right up after the hit. Props on that! #headgamecrazy

Date: 9/9/2006
Victim: Laron Landry, Washington Redskins
Hit by: Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants

Yes, we know that the the video quality is ridiculous but whether it's free streaming porn quality or HD, it ain't hard to tell what happens in this clip. Jacobs straight up trucked Landry. Side bar: One YouTuber's comment of "let the finger hit the mute" has got to be the best advice we've heard in a while. Uploaders, you're not going to win an Oscar for your shitty soundtracks, let the real audio play out.

Date: 10/9/2011
Victim: Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Bucaneers
Hit by: Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers

Check the score, fam. It was 34-3 when this went down. Was this hit really necessary? SMH.

Date: 12/24/2006
Victim: Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals
Hit By: John Lynch, Denver Broncos

On this play Lynch launches Henry into a 360 and forces a fumble in this bone-crunching wreck at the one-yard line. And you wonder why Henry used to smoke weed on his off days? R.I.P., fam.

Date: 1/11/2003
Victim: Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
Hit by: Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia Eagles

During his heyday, B-Dawk broke bread, ribs, hundred-dollar bills, and quarterbacks. This legendary hit during the 2003 NFC Divisional Playoffs left a pre-jail Michael Vick feeling the pain. Word is that to this day members of PETA watch this clip to relieve stress.

Date: 10/31/2004
Victim: Tai Streets, Detroit Lions
Hit By: Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys

*Cues the appropriate soundtrack which is curiously enough Jerry Jones' theme song*

Date: 12/30/2007
Victim: Chris Henry, Tennessee Titans
Hit by: Darrell Reid, Indianapolis Colts

Darrell Reid to Chris Henry: "Where are you going? Oh, yeah, that's what I thought."

Date: 9/30/2002
Victim: Keith Burns, Denver Broncos
Hit by: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

The man "speaks life" and makes you want to run through walls. So it's no surprise that he makes a 6'2", 235-pound linebacker look like Verne Troyer on this play. All players probably feel a little bit better running down the middle of the field with Ray Lewis retired.

Date: 9/5/1994
Victim: Napoleon McCallum, Oakland Raiders
Hit by: Ken Norton Jr., San Francisco 49ers

Checking out a most brutal NFL hits of all time list is all fun and games until you come up on that clip that ends a career and almost causes a player to lose their leg. At the bottom of that pile Napolean McCallum's leg was twisted like pretzel. If it weren't for successful emergency surgery, McCallum's leg would've been amputated due to a ruptured artery and nerve damage.

Date: 1978 season
Victim: Isiah Robertson, Los Angeles Rams
Hit by: Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers

Earl Campbell used his head as a battering ram and took half the L.A. Rams with him for about 20 yards. He was an absolute monster.

Date: 1940 Championship Game
Victim: Two defenders, Washington Redskins
Hit by: George Wilson, Chicago Bears

The Bears literally ran over the Redskins, beating them 73-0 in the 1940 Championship Game. George Wilson took out two defenders with one devastating hit.

Date: 1/20/1991
Victim: Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
Hit by: Leonard Marshall, New York Giants

Just listen to what Montana had to say about the hit in the video. Thinking you're gonna die after a tackle is some serious shit.

Date: 12/7/2008
Victim: Brad Smith, New York Jets
Hit by: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Brad Smith ran into a brick wall called Patrick Willis. He tried to take it like a man and act like it was nothing. Little did he know a concussion was in his future.

Date: 10/7/2008
Victim: Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts
Hit by: Tenard Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Not only did Tenard Jackson leave Clark crying for his mom, he stepped on his face as well. SMH, so disrespectful.

Date: 9/17/2006
Victim: Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
Hit By: Brian Russell, Cleveland Browns

Chad never had a chance at catching that ball. During the post-game interview he was asking about Joe Biden and shouting out some guy named, Hugh. It was sad.

Date: 1960 NFC Championship game
Victim: Frank Gifford, new York Giants
Hit by: Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles

Concrete Charlie lived up to his name with this tackle. Frank Gifford tried his best to get away from Bednarik. He looked like he died on impact.

Date: 11/18/1985
Victim: Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins
Hit by: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants

Theisman suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula after this take down. It's almost as if LT knew he ended Joe's career after you see his reaction. It must've been hell seeing No. 56 coming at you in full speed.

Date: January 9, 1977, Super Bowl VII
Victim: Sammy White, Minnesota Vikings
Hit by: Jack Tatum, Oakland Raiders

Jack Tatum is the reason the NFL is soft today. He came down the middle of the field knocking heads off and not giving a single fuck. They didn't call him The "Assassin" for nothing.

Date: 2/10/2007
Victim: Brian Moorman, Buffalo Bills
Hit by: Sean Taylor, Washington Redskins

What the hell was Brian Moorman thinking? He might've forgot that he's a punter. The late Sean Taylor never took a play off, not even in the Pro Bowl.

Date: 9/28/2008
Victim: Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals
Hit By: Eric Smith, New York Jets

The Jets Eric Smith suffered a concussion while Boldin suffered a fractured skull and was out three weeks. Want to know why Anquan is fighting the air? Check out this weird list.

Date: 1/13/2007
Victim: Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
Hit by: Sheldon Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Disclaimer: Yes, the video quality is what you'd expect from a video upload in the mid-2000s (terrible soundtrack and all) but the brutality of this hit shines through despite those factors. Boy do we miss this type of football. This type of hit is probably illegal these days. Bush didn't know whether to come or go. Bendito.