10 Greatest NFL Performances Through Injury

These are the grittiest performances in NFL history.
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The NFL consistently delivers some of the most exciting action in sports. But, football is full of more than just exciting plays. One of the most violent sports in the world, players are constantly managing pain and injuries. You might not even realize it, but many of the greatest performances of all-time have come while a player was playing through a severe injury. Here are the 10 grittiest performances in NFL history.
10 Greatest NFL Performances Through Injury

[@thethe5475]

As someone who suffers from a 24/7/365 migraine level headache for 6and a half straight years, I can tell you Terrell Davis is an absolute beast for playing through a migraine, for me the pain is so bad all the time that I feel like I have black eyes permanently, and my skin is so sensitive I can feel the air against it all the time. For someone to go out and play the way he did while suffering through that, proves he's tough as nails and nobody can take that performance away from him 💪💪

[@SOMEDUMBKID11]

You know no one believes you, right?

[@GH0STQUEEN]

@@SOMEDUMBKID11 you know chronic migraines are real, right? severe cases can cause allodynia which makes any light touch feel painful.

[@a.j.simiele819]

I get migraines a lot too they are not fun

[@sethmurray2896]

I am on meds for miagrains right now

[@matthewanthony4606]

Snowflake

[@cabercrombie13]

Brett favre playing right after his dad died and putting on an incredible performance will always stand out to me.

[@hectorlumbagoCringe]

Agreed

[@kevinsimms4792]

That was a hell of a game!!! I remember it like it was yesterday.

[@idiotswithfreetime8306]

I played a backyard football game and had a stubbed toe 😂

[@timothymatuska134]

This man needs more likes 😏😏😏

[@aubreychisum9596]

Oh my

[@firestarrocks]

That’s hardcore…

[@killy.spencerspencer2003]

This is a full Goddamn

[@sportsfanatic472]

@@jake5751 I had a turf toe😂😂

[@mmanuel.of03u]

i once played a whole table tennis game with a cold. i am a true warrior

[@ashlostemall]

Ready to go fight in world war 3 with dedication like that

[@mmanuel.of03u]

@@ashlostemall yessir

[@brodyrankin3739]

LOL

[@coltonhall2254]

Yessir

[@5ivestarrrkp]

You wont believe it but i finished a game of fortnite with the flu

[@xaviersullivan6071]

Greg Jennings Packers broken his leg during a play and got a td

[@gav8552]

That play was🔥🔥🔥

[@jasowojnar3975]

No jack lambert

[@falconbridge3179]

I heard he put the team on his back

[@jasowojnar3975]

@@falconbridge3179 yep, but he also broke his fibula in a game, played the game out and still dominated, played next week's game, and played in the process bowl after that

[@lukeviolante3028]

Wasn’t it the kick return at half?

[@jacobwilson7030]

As a Steelers fan, that picture of JJ is iconic. There should be a 20 foot picture of that in the lobby in Canton

[@airhco15]

What happened to him

[@BaconEggs318]

Cap

[@Luke-us8tc]

@@airhco15 nothing

[@Noahishim374]

He would crush Big Ben

[@jacobwilson7030]

@@Noahishim374 he gets to watch Ben and his brothers from the box in the playoffs this year like usual

[@muzipasimtonga9157]

Once played a game of basketball with a broken heart 💔

[@200chaxe5]

Damn did u win tho

[@Sixty.6]

Stfu

[@juliantv8211]

I hate when that happens

[@rokudo2190]

I played a whole two downs after breaking my wrist and radius in my arm

[@lemickeyjames7189]

sthu

[@prestongarvey4415]

Where tf is Greg Jennings

[@majik7828]

he's busy carrying the team on his back

[@ethanhallermeier5877]

@@majik7828 doe

[@koshfnbr]

@@majik7828 fs

[@vinnykwon781]

Too busy outrunning one of the hardest hitting safetys

[@noahvillanueva9739]

underrated comment

[@liquidvessel]

Everyone in the comments like “they’re tough? I finished my game with a sprained finger AND I play waterboy”

[@Louismulh]

yessir

[@yourdad3906]

you are a true man

[@thefrog6515]

I play a game with a jammed thumb and I play center and nose guard

[@ryme-_-1803]

Damn bro

[@lynxgaming55-31]

During a game i was layed ontop of after a play tore multiple ligaments in my wrist, and dislocated it but still played, sacked the qb twice

[@josephhopkins2851]

Brett Favre played half a season with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Also played one of the best games of his career the day after his dad died. Seriously disappointing to not see Favre make the list as he is the league's ultimate iron man.

[@michaelsand2791]

Bret Favre deserves mention for his incredible record of consecutive games started in a row. He played thru major injuries.

[@connerk]

Who’s Bret Favre

[@motgkingjay2109]

I once played catcher with an ingrown toenail!! Still walk with my chin up till this day

[@samuelgosselin754]

Damn that’s tuff

[@Vonblargen]

Didn't "play" through it necessarily, but around mile 60 of my first 100 mile ultra marathon, I had a massive muscle blowup in the back of my right knee, making running all but impossible. It swelled to about the width of a basketball. I hobbled on 1.5 legs for 40 miles to finish in a little over 29 hours. The worst pain I've ever felt, but I'm glad I pushed through it and was able to finish.

[@validnt5787]

Meanwhile soccer players when they trip on air particles: *dying noises*

[@lj5732]

@Andre Leite da Silva Oh, did he?

[@mmanuel.of03u]

I bet you can’t even play imaginary soccer 🥅

[@tylnozcn27]

@Andre Leite da Silva soccer fanboy lmao

[@gddenate3309]

Lmao

[@lucid4335]

😆 lmao

[@lemurtoad3617]

My dad couldn't even move his shoulder when he separated it and emmet smith played a whole football game with it

[@mikemc4549]

You're dad didn't get the shot Emmit did.

[@Elton-be4wu]

I feel like they make injuries seem worse in the nfl so it was probably minor

[@Airplaneobseesed9937]

I don’t care

[@keeganchrist1677]

Why am I not on here once I played a whole golf game with a stuffy nose

[@gustoqpzm5495]

Tougher than all of these lol

[@c4nxtures847]

@@gustoqpzm5495 fr

[@judejayne7349]

So brave so woke

[@jamproductions3037]

Lol

[@bostonlicks9666]

Yor tougher than emit smith

[@aaronTGP_3756]

In the same AFC Championship Rivers played on a torn ACL and meniscus, LaDainian Tomlinson sat out most of the game with a sprained MCL, comfortably on the bench. Chargers fans could say that Rivers earned their respect, while Tomlinson made them question his toughness.

[@Yeat_prodzz]

Yo this is fire props to j.j Watt🔥!!!

[@ziplineking6374]

For a moment I thought u were actually Cam Newton

[@y2kduck344]

Same

[@jdotboyz7927]

He wasn’t even mentioned in the video. 😂😂

[@ziplineking6374]

I know but his profile pic

[@jdotboyz7927]

@@ziplineking6374 bro you good, because I wasn’t talking to you or is there a phantom comment

[@ikeramaroavalos9739]

wow at a super bowl and play like that, thats just a miracle.

[@spenceweinheimer3830]

I knew it will be Patrick Willis injuring someone. Of course it's the animal

[@saucyso2]

once played a whole football game with a broken heart

[@edgar2785]

you same i played with 6 broken ribs a lung collapsed and my brain had to be cut in half

[@jebronlames4097]

Remember when Russell Wilson had 3 injuries in 3 weeks in the 2016 season, and he started every game in his career still.

[@swagweegee4466]

We just have to make sure that we all remember how Calvin Johnson's entire career was basically through injury If you see his fingers now, you can't say Oh, that was nothing

[@lemurtoad3617]

If you look at donald drivers fingers they look like a bow they hella curved

[@jebadiahfyefye8994]

TOs performance in that super bowl was unreal. His whole season was. I was at the Linc for the first game he ever played there in eagle green. Home field opener preseason against ray Lewis and the ravens. Not many remember this but it was like a movie. We went out and got one of the best to do it, and in his first game, THE VERY FIRST OFFENSIVE PLAY, mcnabb throws an 81 yd (ironically also TOs number) TD pass to Owens. Mcnabb put his hand in the air and signed TO as if he were signing an autograph. He was so excited to finally have a guy at the position that was a game changer. And so were we. The stadium erupted like it was the super bowl. Philly fans were pretty smart. We knew with TO, Jim Johnson’s defense, and andy at the helm, the super bowl wasn’t just a possibility, but it was likely. I put a lot of blame on TO for what happened afterwards. But not all of it. His personality just isn’t easy to handle. Mcnabb should have done more to keep things going. It wouldn’t have been easy. But if he did, he’d be remembered far differently. A lot of eagle fans don’t even give mcnabb his rightful place as the organizations best qb ever. Which he was, and it’s not really close.

[@thefishinbrothers1084]

Nobody is going to talk about Edelman in Super Bowl 49 when he go a concussion and still caught a touchdown.

[@catinawoods6146]

man shut up a cosushon I've played through an cosushon and got 2 TD

[@AD......]

3 reasons to sub: this dude has a great voice, they do daily uploads so you always have something interesting to watch, and they have great informative info about football! I LOVE THIS CHANNEL.

[@AD......]

@@NehemiahAreta I'm sorry?

[@AD......]

@@NehemiahAreta oh wait nvm

[@NehemiahAreta]

@@AD...... lol good edits 👌 . I'll delete my comment

[@AD......]

@@NehemiahAreta lol thx

[@katerinavialpando3620]

fun times yesterday. great bday present that was

[@jokershakur2076]

I had a mcl/acl tear in week 2 , I believed that my team would make it to the championship so I decided not to get surgery so I could play a couple snaps . We won & I got surgery right after . Wouldn’t wish that pain on nobody !!!

[@levitationlover618]

I love this man’s voice

[@reecelolly967]

This dudes voice is so good

[@josephmackey2829]

honorable mention julio jones ran a 4.39 with a broken foot?

[@awatt15.]

Tore my mcl and didn’t play the rest of the season like a normal person, wtf are these comments

[@lyrictheorystudios7122]

Aiden Watkins these comments be like “ if you dont play with a cracked skull with swelling of the brain and a major concussion your a pussy”

[@bostonlicks9666]

@@lyrictheorystudios7122 nobody has said that

[@BernardoSucksAtCallOuts]

@@bostonlicks9666 you are 4 months late and I'm 5 months late

[@emperor_flextape7197]

@@BernardoSucksAtCallOuts jokes on you, I’m 11 months late

[@truetens9705]

Severe injuries is one of the risks you have to accept if you want to make it to the top on the NFL, awesome vid!!! 👍✌️😜

[@SirKnight1096]

Brett Hull played for the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals with a torn groin. He helped win the Cup.

[@zay4080]

As a cowboys fan, I appreciate the tony romo entry

[@topbaker4651]

Didn't Romo also play with a ruptured disk in his back ??

[@Bukejuice22]

@@topbaker4651 I actually think that game was more impressive and was more important.

[@jcenterprisesjc]

Same and I remember that game. There was so much backlash to the doctors for letting him play with a punctured lung (they supposed didnt know)

[@clomob007]

#9 carried the franchise for years wit no o-line main reason he was always hurt was running for his life every game IMO

[@dylanwalker4258]

@@clomob007 facts bro. People think the cowboys always had a great o-line

[@jakefromstatefarm1599]

Thomas Davis played through a broken forearm in super bowl 50, so I hope he’s on here

[@Idkjsnfjdnsnd]

his voice is AWESOME!!!!!!!

[@meghanmonfette4111]

When I was 12 I did mountain bike up & downhill. I missed the weekly practice but came to the race on the weekend. I didn't know the track but when the race started I was first out of 8 boys. It had been raining and on the first tight uphill turn, my back wheel slipped and stumbled down the hill. I got a wheel in my face, a wooden stick up my stomach and the handlebar in my ribs. I got back up and finished the race 5th. GIRL POWER!!!!!!!!!!!

[@grege5074]

Migraine, broken leg, separated shoulder, amputated finger, torn ACL flu? THE FLU?! really? that made the list.

[@williamtrepanier2988]

Well, he did rush for 275 yards while under a terrible flu. Most people would barely leave their couch with that type of fever

[@FrostWonders1]

You’ve got to think of how severe a flu can be

[@austinshi4960]

He said severe flu symptoms dummy

[@josericardoortiz8134]

Worst injury I played through? A broken heart after she left me 😔💔

[@-Maverick.]

@@genghiskhan4387 copy/paste huh buddy?

[@lethalinjection2031]

BIG BEN the king of playing through injury

[@Kam3L8]

That's what "team leader" meaning could be found in Webster's dictionary. No matter what pain you suffers, it's for the team. And that's why I love this game so much.

[@xaecrowley2861]

Damn that makes me happy to see the players hold there hands over there heart have not seen that in a while all I see now is neeling so disrespectful to our soldiers

[@jj.capalot2394]

I knew it will be Patrick Willis injuring someone. Of course it's the animal

[@Duality.12]

My name is Patrick... >:((

[@Jalen_Ramseys_Burner]

@@Duality.12 ok?

[@Elton-be4wu]

I had an extremely painfully shoulder injury all season and started every game as linebacker and eventually had the most tackles as a freshman in Georgia on a varsity team, 8th in the country

[@boynowayboy3218]

That thumbnail looks epic

[@Carson_TK]

0:26 ah yes, my favorite player *TARRELL OWENS*

[@dylancrosby1575]

I played through the entire season with a broken foot

[@austintaylor9442]

Finally something real

[@MrBeenus]

On the bench?

[@skerete7968]

man, i miss this voice

[@christophercooper5133]

This dude's voice is gas😈

[@BIG-DRUZZ]

I once had 3 torn muscles and half of my leg cut of and I had my neck snapped backwards and still scorded 45 Td in a game!

[@gavinnoel8586]

That’s cap

[@Caiebfs_on_insta]

Thats the joke

[@snowz_overkill3580]

A broken neck for 10 week this happen at week 3 and I was the starting running back and overall team captain I asked for a neck Brace and played the rest of the game

[@javierchapa5662]

I screwed up my back just bending over to scratch my leg. I couldn't even walk to the damn bathroom. These guys are incredible. Great video!!!

[@thirtyseven1872]

Trying to over come that OUUUUUU feeling I get when I see these types of things

[@panckakepanda3999]

I played through one of my High school football games with a concussion and a hyperextended knee. Best part is I broke 3 ribs when I was thrown into the bench after a 4th down conversion.

[@drfswayze1738]

I thought I was tough when I played with a sprained ankle 😭

[@matthewanthony4606]

🧢

[@RAAAHHHHHHHHH]

🧢, I got a hyperextended knee and could barely walk

[@Caiebfs_on_insta]

Cap

[@maybecaleb3085]

I mean, I played backyard football with a stubbed toe and a jammed finger, I thing I should be on here

[@gangstaroar5461]

this voice is is... really really smooth

[@fazezen]

The worst injury I’ve played through is a cramp😂

[@WavyKing-yi5yi]

I played with an ankle sprain after missing a scrimmage and the first game I wasn’t supposed to come back yet but i got 6 tackles and a forced fumble and we won in a blowout scoring over 30 unanswered points it’s not a broken leg but🤷🏾‍♂️💪🏾😅

[@turtle_6067]

Dude, I clipped my fingernail too short and still played.

[@Carthur1021]

Im a Vikings Fan, but Jim Mcmahon played through more injuries with the bears than anyone ever acknowledges. broken ribs, fingers, and countless others. toughest QB ever.

[@MotionMU]

THAT VOICE OMG GIVE ME MORE

[@levim.roadtonascar17]

drew brees played through 3 broken ribs and a collapsed lung

[@brandonhall2871]

I had the same injury as Phillip Rivers. Torn ACL and meniscus. Tore both of them on myfirst carry of the third quarter. I played the whole fourth quarter both ways.

[@amwerner1]

I have the same condition as Davis in high school and college. Props to him.

[@YourGrannysThong]

Before I even watch this, Stafford playing and throwing the game winning touchdown with his shoulder shredded against the Browns better be on this list

[@sedianttheone4009]

My worst injury was a sprained knee while skiing and still skied 3 more hours

[@ronaldthepp9285]

tell someone else this not a youtube comment section ❤️

[@eddiepena3622]

love his voice

[@jeanmccall2007]

Rocky bleuir was in the veitnam war and blew up his legs and still played

[@goldenstandard187]

this video means no excuses

[@jpmnky]

As big of a baby as TO always was, getting to SB XXXIX and playing like that...... legendary.

[@justice1287]

The narrator is giving me CORPSE vibes 😂

[@ckplayz6373]

I played through a torn acl a nine and I had two Touchdowns

[@peterwelch57]

I played through a completely torn acl as an offensive linemen and thats not only one game but an intire season 10 games

[@frankgrimes2991]

I once played an entire game with a slight headache. Nothing can stop me!!!

[@johnvane5240]

Played with a broken heartlidge after seeing the size of the opposing teams defensive line. My stats for the game? I’m glad you asked. Times tangled in opponent’s feet - 3. Times brushed aside like silk curtain - 6. Times thrown into grandstand - 9. Times magnanimously allowed opponents to belt quarterback - too modest to say.

[@carsonchesnut8223]

9:10 😳😳😳😳😳😨😨😵😵

[@spiderboiguy1121]

I saw that too and my face was just 😬

[@NuggetZForLife]

I played a full backyard football game with a headache, I'm a legend

[@denismalone6965]

My worst was a hyper extended wrist muscle in 8th grade football. I begged my coach to play that weekend during the first half of the game. He grabbed my arm and shook it to the tune of a bunch of my wrist bones popping and told me to sit down lol.

[@talangarver2417]

I never knew about T.O

[@tateoh810]

I played through a concussion with out knowing it

[@o.j.parker3119]

Yea I remember as a 10 year old watching T.O. Beasting in that super bowl if not Adam Vinitieri,Philly would’ve won.

[@bird_gang_az9598]

@@o.j.parker3119 Atleast Big Dick Nick lead the eagles to there most remembered victory in franchise history.

[@tsbamsports8772]

I played a whole two downs after breaking my wrist and radius in my arm

[@jacksonthomas4394]

As a linemen, I played through half of the game with a torn ACL and Miniscus. We lost that game, and the whole line was lacking in players since the beginning, so we played with receivers on the line for the rest of the season

[@jaydanwest6472]

0:25 Terrell Owens 1:43 Terrell Davis 3:04 Walter Payton 4:15 Emmitt Smith 5:25 Jack Youngblood 6:30 Eli Manning 7:45 Lawrence Taylor 8:54 Philip Rivers 10:06 Tony Romo 11:29 Ronnie Lott

[@cooperschadler4553]

1:48 what a Beautiful picture of John elway 🤣

[@yertdest2971]

I remember the time I played through a paper cut in the middle of my thumb and index finger (I played a whole game of Minecraft UHC)

[@thefrog6515]

You are an honorary Medal of Honor recipient even when I played call of duty with a broken thumb I never imagined having to do that

[@therat2050]

How did you not die? That’s too severe for me to even get out of bed with it.

[@thefrog6515]

It’s not as severe as it sounds I was playing multiplayer on cod ghosts without PlayStation plus

[@austintaylor9442]

U might be the toughest player I’ve ever seen

[@kylianawest453]

Lol

[@SWANGA247]

I’ve blown both my knees out playing football.

[@g.p.b.growpressbake3807]

I hope Plaxico Burress is on here for his entire 2007 season where he played on 2 bad ankles and a bad knee in the super bowl but still caught the game winning touchdown.

[@musselmanmedia5236]

You sound like Night Lovell and Corpse

[@lukebowman896]

Yep

[@jdotboyz7927]

I don’t hear it

[@trellic698]

Nah this guy has a smoother not so smooth but smoother than corpse

[@lilshorty1886]

Who’s corpse

[@lukebowman896]

@@lilshorty1886 the among us player

[@wesleyy2k294]

I played through a torn ligament in my right ring finger I could not move it and I play wide receiver

[@lyrictheorystudios7122]

Bowling Boy stop the 🧢🧢🧢

[@wesleyy2k294]

@@lyrictheorystudios7122 not capping I got pics of the x-ray 🤣

[@dylancrosby1575]

Who tf cares about a finger

[@wesleyy2k294]

@@dylancrosby1575 you have to catch with your hands and you use your fingers 😐🤣

[@flightslilcousin3939]

How old were you when this happened

[@vinnieandhispizza6299]

I've play soccer. I know, but hear me out. One game I got nailed in the balls three times over the course of the game, but I never left the field. That is by far one of the proudest moments of my life.

[@Datnigga711]

Chris Johnson played his last season with Titans with a torn meniscus and still rushed for over 1,000 yards.

[@Johnnydoodle36]

Romo was so underrated

[@mortensen1961]

Mr. December. . . . .

[@tally323_rl]

Never give up

[@aargeta]

I tore two tendons in my left hand and continued to play the game into OT and won our county final in HS. Outside linebacker. Fingers are still messed up today

[@williambilliot987]

Awesome video just shows alot of dedication from players for there team and fans just to bad not all players are like that " Jay Cutler " for example.

[@connorsmith9629]

Nice

[@hardcoregamerhd8371]

When I was playing football I completely tore a muscle in my lower right back against a football team in Wisconsin. Keep in mind I'm only in 7th grade. I went back out to play in the guard position for the next 3 quarters of the game even though my back really hurt.

[@chrisinsocalif]

I once pulled a neck muscle playing World of Warcraft. I continued to play the game. I know how they feel.

[@VictoryRider106]

Suffered a concussion in high school FB game following week tore my ACL and MCL and stupidly finished the last four games of the season and playoffs. I still cannot recall most of that time period on or off the field.

[@Tustinkible]

I played a game with a concussion. Got blindsided and felt dizzy and had a headache. Still Nothing compared to these guys.

[@lunadevil4322]

Can't forget Philip Rivers 2014 win 38-35 in overtime vs the 49ers in one of the greatest comebacks ever to keep the chargers playoff hopes alive. Man played with herniated spinal discs AND fractured ribs

[@kaky1409]

I played an intense game of thumb war with a numb thumb I am the true legend

[@kingjulien1108]

This guys voice is so badass lmao