Chuck Hughes Game - Radio/Film Merge - 1971 Week 6 - Bears at Lions - 1440p/60fps

A BIG thanks to KZbin user 'epaddon' for posting the entire WJR Detroit radio broadcast of this game on his channel a few months back. Here is a link to that -- • 1971-Bears vs. Lions (... -- I've taken all available NFL Films footage of this game and merged it with the appropriate calls. I de-hissed the audio and applied a 'telephone' filter to help make it sound more audible. I've also re-created the tragic end of the game as well. RIP Chuck Hughes...

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

A BIG thanks to KZbin user 'epaddon' for posting the entire WJR Detroit radio broadcast of this game on his channel a few months back. Here is a link to that -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4q5Y6F9msSFfrs -- I've taken all available NFL Films footage of this game and merged it with the appropriate calls. I de-hissed the audio and applied a 'telephone' filter to help make it sound more audible. I've also re-created the tragic end of the game as well. RIP Chuck Hughes...

[@epaddon]

Glad the radio broadcast was helpful for this. Appreciate the many uploads you've done.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

@@epaddon Thank you very much sir!!! :)

[@halibut1249]

Great editing work with this vid. Very sad moment in NFL history

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

@@halibut1249 Thank you!

[@billcollins2798]

Is there any footage of the catch he made late in the game?

[@RitzWood32]

Crazy to think so many people would be watching this in 2023. Rest in peace chuck

[@jimmy1154]

The Lions officially retired Hughes's number 85 after he died on their field, during a game in 1971. In 2005, they decided to give it to Kevin Johnson when he requested the number. Classless, embarrassing move by the Lions organization.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Wow, I didn't know that. That is beyond despicable.

[@paulcrowe4926]

Calvin Johnson was number 81

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

It was Kevin Johnson, who wore it in 2005. And since then 5 additional Lions have taken the number -- www.pro-football-reference.com/players/uniform.cgi?number=85&team=det Absolutely shameful.

[@daniellinehan63]

The owner doesn't care, like The McCaskey's and Jerry Reinsdorf .

[@Knightmessenger]

Did Kevin Johnson ask the Hughes family for permission? That kinda changes the dynamic.

[@johnbenson4672]

After Hughes' heart issues caused his death while playing, severe heart trauma was a possibility the medical staff had to be ready for. It's entirely possible that Chuck Hughes saved Damar Hamlin's life.

[@henrybrowne7248]

No question: medical attention and skill today is mind-boggling.

[@82dorrin]

I talked to a friend who's an athletic trainer after Damar Hamlin's collapse She told me that any time an athlete collapses the way Hamlin did, you immediately assume cardiac arrest.

[@KT72273]

Who is here after seeing about Damar Hamlin!? Sorry my brain went there!

[@laurelkwiatkowski]

Watching every single minute. Praying for a word he’s going to make it.

[@KT72273]

@@laurelkwiatkowski He's critical as of now according to ESPN!

[@KT72273]

@Ryan Goetz Didn't hear that 😔

[@joncheskin]

Yup, the FoxNews article I read about Hamlin mentioned Chuck Hughes. I hope Hamlin pulls through.

[@vbdavis]

Yup.. same.

[@markdyer6040]

I went to college with Hughes! He was a great guy and one hell of a football player..He caught many a pass from quarterback Billy Stevens at Texas Western College, now known as UTEP..It was a sad day in 1971 with his passing.

[@karlc2869]

It is indeed sad. I hope Damar Hamlin pulls through.

[@henrybrowne7248]

In my post, I describe how a Raiders fan learned about Hughes with grudging admiration the previous season. He was clearly an underrated receiver. Btw, do you know his rookie season? But at the time the Lions were loaded with talented receivers. McCollough, a hurdler; Larry Walton[9.4]; and rookie Ron Jesse, who you see return a kickoff for a TD here.

[@lizdouglas1952]

Yes....I remember this game, and this terrifying time concerning Chuck. My late father was a Lions fan. When the stretcher came onto the field, Chuck's arm was dangling. You just knew he was gone. I am writing this because comments have been made that this never happened before. Chuck wasn't hit. He had a heart attack after the huddle at 28 years of age. They didn't have the kind of doctor's like they do today. Dick Butkus was screaming for help. They performed cpr, and pounded his chest. But he was gone. In this case Chuck was a walking time bomb as his family had heart issues. Just heart breaking. 😪💔🏈🙏

[@bobma6342]

Yes he was dead before he even hit ground

[@leonardshevlin7260]

He was declared dead at the hospital but apparently not DOA [Dead On Arrival]. My recollection was that death occurred on the field.

[@scootdaws25]

From what I understand he could have been at the Mayo Clinic surrounded by doctors and they still couldn't have helped him.

[@ralphmelvin1046]

And they continued with the game which was a travesty. I remember this game distinctly

[@robertmalecki5979]

Yes, I am a Bears fan and I was watching this game and I remember it exactly as you said! This came to my mind also while watching the Bills and Bengals game. I’m so glad Damar is doing much better!

[@gopher401]

I was 11 years old at the time. Attending my first NFL game at old Tiger Stadium. I distinctly remember Dick Butkus motioning frantically to the sidelines for help. You could have heard a pin drop in that full stadium.

[@ldw47]

I remember reading that the Lions players gave thanks to Butkus for trying to help Chuck out at his funeral.

[@ricksorrells8921]

Chuck is still in the NCAA record book for most receiving yards per catch in 1965, 10 receptions for 349

[@henrybrowne7248]

What was his rookie year, '66?

[@JerichoMile4]

@@henrybrowne7248 Chuck Hughes rookie in 1967 with Philadelphia Eagles !!!!

[@depaola63]

Wow 🏈✊

[@mickeymccoy9085]

I was watching this live and what I vividly remember is that Butkus realized immediately the urgency of the situation and was jumping up and down and waiving frantically at the sideline for help. For all his ferocity he had the humanity to call for help to save Chuck. If he didn't know it was serious he might have just stepped on him rather than over him.

[@prodbyktee]

RIP to both 🙏

[@willdrucker4291]

@5:52…making the tackle on the Bears interception…#85…hours later he would be dead…RIP CHUCK HUGHES…prayers for a full and speedy recovery, DAMAR HAMLIN

[@henrybrowne7248]

I saw that too. What a creepy feeling one gets, watching from the future . .

[@chatman2a]

Wow. I didn’t notice that: In the still shot, one can clearly see Chuck Hughs (number 85) making the tackle.

[@TSmith-ns45]

Chuck was a classmate at Abilene (Texas) High School - 1963. Great and humble guy, and funny. RIP

[@brucedavis3816]

Yes one of my fondest memories was my parents waking me up and presenting me with a Chuck Hughes autographed picture!! I was 4 at the time and my parents never bought us anything outside of our birthdays or Christmas so it was really special. He played at TWC in El Paso were I'm from. RIP Chuck you were a great man!

[@patrickmorgan4006]

I was never one to collect autographs, but of the 5 or 6 that I have from when I was a young kid, one is from Chuck Hughes. He was playing for the Eagles at the time, and he just happened to be one of the players who walked past us after a game. I was maybe about 7 or 8 at the time. I didn't realize I had it until years later.

[@sockmonkey22]

Prayers for Damar Hamlin. ❤😢

[@beasthunter200k]

Dane 🙏🏿

[@rockysavino]

Yep ❤

[@22_cincatt]

Great chronicle of this incident. I remember it as a 9 yr old Bengals fan. This Week In Pro Football mentioned, but never showed the play. It was eerie. Especially the black and white photo of him lying listlessly on the field. I had never heard this radio call. Thanks for giving us a deeper understanding of this historic moment. Hope it never happens again.

[@danielcorreard3746]

it almost did less then a week ago january 3 2023

[@jacksonvilletaxman1]

Given the time frame of your reply it was kind of eerie since it did happen. Fortunately it ended better

[@ldw47]

I too remember them talking about it on TWIPF , but I think I heard it first with Howard Cosell on MNF.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I have to admit that I didn't know much about Hughes until recently. I was shocked to find out that he caught just 15 passes over 5 seasons and he never scored a touchdown. Ironically, the timely catch he made in this game was probably the biggest of his career.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

@Fries Yes, I have the entire run of that show. That and "America's Game" are the last good series produced by NFL Films. I've used footage from those programs many times for my projects over the years.

[@1959markie1]

Biggest reception of Chuck's career was Thanksgiving Day 1970 against Oakland when he made a brilliant diving 40 yard catch to sustain a Lions 4th quarter drive in their 28-14 victory over the Raiders. He also made a couple of key receptions a few weeks later during a critical Monday night game against the Rams.

[@jamesbowers7343]

He holds several receiving records at his alma mater, UTEP (known as Texas Western University when he played) in fact he still holds an NCAA record for yards per reception in a single game, at 34.9.

[@henrybrowne7248]

@@1959markie1 Yes, I mention the Thanksgiving game in my post. I'm surprised he only had[someone says] 15 receptions, NO TDs, in his entire career. Wonder what happened . .

[@billcollins2798]

He made a huge catch against the Raiders in the 1970 Thanksgiving Day game (it's on film). That was a catalyst in maintaining the Lions' momentum which resulted in a TD a couple of plays later.

[@pencylolayahbless7480]

Who's here For Damar Hamlin As Well ? Sad 😔

[@antonchigurh8541]

And here for Chuck Hughes and Hank Gathers. RIP Unfortunately this can happen, so cherish every moment you have.

[@williamr.whiting6543]

I remember listening to Lions announcer Van Patrick (the greatest) and color-announcer Bob Reynolds on the radio. My sister and brother-in-law were at this game and said the absolute silence by 54,000 fans was truly eerie.

[@markrocovich2234]

I was at that game, sitting on the first base side with 3 friends under the overhang..I watched the game thru the goalposts and had a pair of binoculars that were very good..The Lions were trying to march down the field to score, and after a running play, Chuck Hughes turned to go back to the huddle, stopped, and fell to to ground..Dick Butkus was the first to get there, and the look on his face thru my binoculars was of both anguish and fear..The med team got there as fast as possible, they put an oxygen mask on him, and as they were taking him off the field on a stretcher, his right arm was dangling off the side as they took him off to the left side of the field..He didnt make it to Henry Ford Hospital, and it was on the front pages of both the Free Press and Detroit News Monday editions.

[@williamgullett5911]

I was 6 and it was the first game I had ever been to. I asked my dad what happened and he looked at me and said he didn't know

[@SportsFanaticShorts]

Wow… I can’t imagine experiencing that in my own eyes

[@5Ring]

Did they resume the game? Just asking, given this week's similar situation.

[@MatthewChristianMurray]

@@5Ring, this game was very, very close to being over by the time Chuck collapsed. They finished in silence. The Bears won, but didn't care. The Lions lost, but didn't care.

[@larryaldama1673]

🙏🏽🛐✝️

[@Eric_Young2024]

Why didn’t they show the actual play?

[@clifforddriver9434]

That game was shown on national television on a Sunday, I remember watching it.

[@bobmariano3731]

RIP Chuck Hughes 🙏🙏

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

5:49 - the last published NFL Films footage of Chuck Hughes (#85), as he makes the tackle after the interception. Just minutes later he would be gone.

[@QuarkTwain]

It's a shame they haven't published his 32-yard catch, which was his last great play. I wonder if they don't want to show the hit when he was tackled.

[@manuelquintana2235]

I'm disappointed of NFL forget about forgetting about Chuck Hughes, Damar was not first player it happened to

[@karlcooper7016]

After an autopsy was taken it was discovered that Chuck Hugh's had a heart artery that was 95%blocked that caused his heart attack.

[@docnoc66]

Exactly, he also had a very strong family history with several males on his side of his family dying young from heart attacks.

[@karlcooper7016]

@@docnoc66 Wow I didn't know that although heart problems do tend to run in families I inherited my moms atrialfibrulation problem by I'm still kicking at 56.

[@gregrice1532]

How the team not know he had that munch blockage that's so sad 😭 I guess they never checked thanks for telling me I didn't know that

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

@@gregrice1532 Was a different time back then. Checking for those kinds of things certainly wouldn't have been commonplace, and I'm sure not as easy to do as maybe it is today.

[@mikewynne7131]

@@gregrice1532 He actually likely had a heart attack the prior week and was hospitalized at Henry Ford Hospital for tests. His wife sued and got a settlement.

[@arthur131313]

I don't think they had AEDs in those days otherwise may have turned out diff

[@olofpalme63]

I remember the next day at school, everyone was convinced Butkus was obviously responsible because of the hit on Sanders

[@stephaniegormley9982]

Yes the Detroit newspapers both published this photo on their front page. 8:47 which in the 'court of public opinion' had everyone saying Butkus' hit was what did it. Hughes was the decoy receiver on the play and the two never made contact. Butkus to his credit was simply the first to notice the man down and signaled to the Detroit bench that their man needed help.

[@jacksonvilletaxman1]

Thank you for posting this. You were clairvoyant as nine months after posting this we damn nearly had a repeat. Fortunately it ended better but there has been a lot of interest in Chuck Hughes due to Damar Hamlin. #ripchuckhughes

[@GK-ev5rd]

Hearing this call from WJR takes me back to my youth. This game was before the "sold out" lifting of home games for TV viewing. The Lions sold out Tiger Stadium time after time, but those of us who lived in Metro Detroit could only hear the home games on the radio and it was these two guys you hear, Van Patrick and Bob Reynolds. That Ron Jessie TD run sent chills down my spine, I played it back four or five times...Patrick was perfect on the call. Nobody loved the Lions more than Van Patrick. On TV there was a show he hosted and no matter who the Lions were to play that Sunday, he predicted a Detroit Lions victory. If his predictions were true the Lions would have been undefeated every year and champions of the world time after time. Patrick was very rich, he owned three or four BIG radio stations and had friends all over the place. When he died in 1974 from Cancer, the radio broadcasts were never the same as Bob Reynolds took over and it was like Oliver without Hardy or Abbott without Costello. I remember this game, that bleak Sunday and the felling all across the city and state as all mourned. I forgot what a great job Bob Reynolds did to describe the attempt to bring Chuck Hughes back, when he saw the mouth to mouth and the beating of the chest, he knew it was beyond serious.

[@careyconley4690]

The fact that NFL games back then were blacked out in their home markets was the STUPIDEST effing thing in the history of pro sports. The NFL eliminated in its entirety, one of the most loyal and locked-in viewing audiences from viewing their product or their ads from every single game, and did this for YEARS, in favor of local ticket sales when they could've had both. People would have STILL gone to the games back then if they were on TV.

[@GK-ev5rd]

@@careyconley4690 the owners of the NFL teams across the board were scared stiff of local TV and the fact that local loyal fans would stay away from attending in hopes that the games would be televised from their local teams stadium to the comfort of their living room or bar stool!

[@tomhearns143]

This is not WJR. If it were, it would have been Van Patrick or Bob Reynolds. This is the Chicago radio duo.

[@GK-ev5rd]

@@tomhearns143 uh, its Van Patrick and Bob Reynolds, The tape is from WJR. You are gravely mistaken if you think this is a Chicago announcer

[@altfactor]

We almost had a repeat of that with Buffalo's Damar Hamlin, who had a cardiac arrest on the field during a January, 2023 game against Cincinnati, but at this writing, it looks like he'll make it and recover.

[@docnoc66]

I was 11 at the time and remember that incident- I kept a scrapbook of news clippings that I still have that has an article I saved. The NFL was sued by the widow - settled for undisclosed sum. Evidently he had a close call several weeks earlier and the team doc did not inquire closely- family history of makes in the Hughes family was not good related to cardiac issues

[@markcolovos5834]

I was 12 yrs old and was at that game ,very very dad

[@mjweismann111]

I thought she sued the hospital, not the NFL.

[@jnolette1030]

They played hardcore back then. Going over the middle was crazy.

[@chatman2a]

Yes, my friend; That was back in the day, when they played FOOTBALL.

[@bobma6342]

@@chatman2a They hit just as hard today. The game is just as violent today.

[@MikeBodo]

I was six years old when this happened and was at the game with my father and grandfather. I remember the play as though it happened yesterday and will never forget the EMT's bringing Chuck Hughes past me in the aisle of our section as he lay motionless on the gurney. He was literally purple from the neck up and his appearance horrified me. Because Tiger Stadium didn't have ground level vehicular access, they had to wheel the gurney up a flight of stairs to the main concourse where they could get him into an ambulence and to the hospital where he was later declared dead. It was a horrible day and a sad ending to a young life. Story goes that the physicians who attened to him at the hosptial said this was inevitable, as Hughes had the heart of a 70 yr. old man, though he was 28. Crazy!

[@lambro3001]

A heart attack at just 28? It's a cruel world

[@mrs.walton9251]

I was researching...the doctors and nurses at the hospital diagnosed..they assume it was cardiac arrest.it was misdiagnosed....the family sued the hospital

[@paulpetri8738]

I must confess Dave it took me a minute to decide to watch this. As I said in your Monday Night football highlight video I watched this game as an 8 year old and still remember it. Bear home games were usually blacked out because they couldnt sellout Soldier Field so I could only watch away games. So I was glued to the TV set on the few games on TV. I have a lasting memory of Butkus waving frantically to the Lions bench to get help on the field. Perhaps that image and his massive hit earlier in the game led people to think he had something to do with it. He clearly had nothing to do with it as you can hear in the radio call they said no one was near him when he collapsed. A real shame. R.I.P.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I understand your apprehension completely Paul. To be honest, when I started to assemble this together I wasn't thinking about including the Hughes portion, and was just going to do the play footage only. Part of that was because there is no public NFL Films footage of either Hughes' catch nor his collapse on the field, plus I thought it might seem a bit morbid. However I was able to find some still shots of the incident and reasoned that I could recreate the scene that day and both honor him and show the tragedy in sort of a surreal way.

[@stevenzalusky437]

If you watch the film closely, you will see Hughes make a tackle after a Bears interception and get up and walk away.

[@1959markie1]

@@stevenzalusky437 Yes, and that play happened about 10 minutes (actual time) before he collapsed. Very eerie to see.

[@stevenzalusky437]

@@1959markie1 It really is. I saw the game live and remember the final catch he made.

[@sludge8506]

Per his autobiography, butkus received hate mail after this.

[@toddfowler4017]

I'll take the 20th Century over the 21st Century in most situations! But NOT in this case. Modern medicine/technology is so much more advanced 50 years later, and even the NFL itself! He might have been saved today. RIP Chuck Hughes.🙏🇺🇲🏈🙏

[@alistairfannell6694]

Damar Hamlin situation

[@mckman6700]

It's strange that during and after the Hamlin situation the media kept saying that it was "unprecedented". Obviously that was not the case.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

That's because the media of today are a bunch of hacks who can't be bothered to do research and whose jobs consist entirely of 'cutting and pasting'.

[@johndcornell6341]

I've never even heard about this until this week...been watching football since the mid 70s...seems like this was swept under the rug a bit

[@johnrogan9420]

If the Lions didn't have back luck they would have no luck at all.

[@jln55]

Chuck caught a huge 42 yard pass the prior Thanksgiving to help the Lions upset Oakland.

[@JerichoMile4]

Chicago Bears 28 at Detroit Lions 23 F Chuck Hughes played college football at Texas Western (Texas El Paso) senior 1966 Hughes played with Philadelphia Eagles (1967-1969) and Detroit Lions (1970-1971) Detriot Lions 7-6-1 in 1971 season NFL Super Bowl VI champion : Dallas 24 Miami 3 F (1971 season)

[@joncheskin]

Just wanted to say that it is remarkable that more players have not died on the field--given the now thousands of NFL football games that have taken place. NFL players are clearly in great shape, although the game seems to do a lot of damage to them in both the short and long terms.

[@Allentonstudios]

Medical technology is likely the reason more players have not died. That being said however, the NFL, which is Big Business, and a very powerful force when trying to get it to adhere to legal safety issues, has stood in the way because of revenue...typical of corporate America.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I haven't necessarily heard that he died during the game. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:34pm that day, and the game began at 2pm. Seems the game was probably over for maybe an hour perhaps before he finally expired.

[@mikehunt8997]

Chuck Hughes would later get a personalized letter from President Nixon.

[@laurelkwiatkowski]

Watching now. Heartbreaking. Praying he pulls through 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@beasthunter200k]

I’m praying for damar Hamlins hope he is ok

[@Physics072]

This was 1971 Chuck huges died of blood clot/heart attack. The game went on to finish.

[@RYMAN1321]

@@beasthunter200k Thankfully he appears to be 👍

[@karlcooper7016]

Tiger stadium is no longer with us either not making light of it at all I'm just making a point that everything in life is temporal and temporary.

[@karlc2869]

Well, The Corner Ballpark now stands at the site where Tiger Stadium once stood though.

[@karlcooper7016]

@@karlc2869 No what stands on the site now is some apartments and offices I believe the new ballbark(Comerica Park) is closer to downtown.

[@karlc2869]

@@karlcooper7016 Yep.

[@jonathanbarber5097]

Wow, did you see the mess of the field?

[@mycitywasgone4216]

28 years old 95 percent blocked artery What the heck Was this guy’s Diet ❓ Was he a cigarette smoker❓ RIP MR.HUGHES🙏wOw…🏈

[@kennethdewey901]

No Lion should ever wear number 85. This is why.

[@michaelhegyan7464]

I was thirteen, growing up in Bloomfield Hills, remember it well, since my father was a great athlete, having played for Florida, back in the 40's..

[@alanm1529]

Hughes died on the field, the only player in a major team sport to do so in American sports history. In 1920, Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians was hit by pitch by Carl mays of the Yankees and died at the hospital, it was the only death due to injury in a team sport. No batting helmets In 1920.

[@williamcirocco4868]

I was age 12, listened to the WJR broadcast on the car radio- Sunday afternoon, we were probably driving to visit family. We didn't find out he had passed until the evening newscasts. The Ford family bought the Lions in 1963, with the Lions medical staff based at Henry Ford Hospital and that's where he was taken. The blocked coronary artery was most likely the 'Left Main' artery - this scenario is colloquially known as the "widow maker". No misdiagnosis at the hospital ... he died face down at Tiger Stadium. This the first I heard about "a close call several weeks earlier". Given that coronary bypass operations were in their infancy and the first cardiac stent procedure was still 15 years away, a cardiac death was inevitable for Mr. Hughes- just as his family history foretold.

[@ricelaker]

I saw this game on TV in 1971.

[@roneubanks829]

He looks like the georgia bulldogs qb thats going to start next year .

[@tammyallen8205]

I am watching this After Damar Hilman had his Heart Arrest. I thought of Our Detroit Lions Chuck Hughes. RIP Chuck Hughes former Wide Receiver of The Detroit Lions. You Will Never Be Forgotten.

[@williammizebee]

Yes but demar Hamlin is still alive and breathing Hughes had blockage so even aed probably wouldn't have helped him afib wouldn't have help him

[@RYMAN1321]

Why the hell did they even continue with the game ?

[@MatthewChristianMurray]

It was almost over already.

[@rasheedmuhammad7668]

The game goes on. Not like the softy’s of today.

[@jimroscovius]

And the games were still played. Why not this time?

[@mikefargo4339]

I recall watching this game from home, nursing my own football leg injury. I vividly recall the play and Hughes' collapse. Recall two Bears players running the Oxygen cylinder onto the field, as the Lions did not have one of their own. I recall that ambulance serine could be heard in the background, taking Hughes to the hospital as the final minute of the game was played. It would be determined later that he died from a blood clot that traveled to his heart from a previous injury early in the season.

[@elwoodblues6663]

ok al bundy

[@mike196212]

It happened up here in Canada in 1975 in a CFL game between Calgary and Hamilton. A rookie Hamilton linebacker named Tom Pate died on the field. I believe there was a collision and he swallowed his tongue(I think). I was only 13,a Toronto fan and the game was on late(in Calgary;I live in Halifax,a few time zones away from the accident). Watched a bit but then went to bed. An older cousin who lived with us for a few years told me the horrible news the next day.

[@kurtcrowley9372]

Tom Pate played college ball and had a scary injury when he was knocked cold in a game at Wisconsin. Strechered off but moments later sitting on bench being interviewed by ABC's Jim Lampley, ready to go back in the game.

[@mike196212]

Man,THAT IS CREEPY. How unlucky can one person be?

[@stephaniestanley8041]

@10:09 they look like astronaut wives, instead of cheerleaders.

[@sheldonturley1849]

Did they retired Chuck Hughes number in Detroit Lion's?

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Apparently they did for 34 years, but inexplicably gave it back out in 2005

[@shazbots]

Question: Is the video footage sped up? It looks "faster" than 1x speed.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

NFL Films would routinely shoot their footage in slow motion, at roughly two-thirds normal speed. I sped up the footage about a third to compensate for that and to make the footage match the speed of the radio calls.

[@halibut1249]

The days when NFLers played on real grass and their uniforms and arms and faces were full of dirt and mud and bruises and cuts. Made the game seem grittier and harder-hitting than today. You knew by somebody's jersey they had taken a beating or given one

[@jlh4jc]

From our perspective, we know what it was. But listening to the announcers speculate on what happened to Chuck Hughes as they were observing it real time, you can't blame them for thinking it was some kind of physical injury. The last thing you think would happen to a 27 year old athlete is a heart attack.

[@joncheskin]

Neck injury was a good guess, considering he was probably motionless throughout. As soon as the CPR started, however, the only reasonable deduction to make was that he had stopped breathing and his heart had stopped. I am guessing the announcers probably could not even bear to say it out loud over the radio.

[@merriemisfit8406]

And yet -- such irony -- at the start of the same year, 1971, Detroit Tigers pitcher John Hiller had a heart attack at 27 and missed about a season and a half. He, of course, was able to make the best of his second chance. The time I met John Hiller I had a bag of Sunkist fruit jellies, so I offered him one. He asked if I had any lime ones. I figured, yeah, I'd usually save the lime ones for myself, but for you, good sir, LIME IT IS!

[@bobma6342]

They said he seemed to be in a lot of pain which was strange since he wasn't moving.

[@johnnygibson5103]

WOW!! Never heard about this story. 😕

[@joebloggs8636]

I had completely forgotten about this ,I was 15 years old ..See what 50 years can do to your memory..

[@jnolette1030]

I can't remember last week! Or where my keys are

[@garyrentschler6082]

I was 16 and remember it. It was so shocking and sad. The Lion's were pretty good back then. They lost 5-0 to Dallas the year before, in the playoffs.

[@TheBatugan77]

Lots of people wonder why this didn't get more attention. Lots of people don't remember that the 24-hour news cycle hadn't been dreamt of yet. Neither had cableTV, satellite TV, or ESPN etc. Hell, the Super Bowl didn't even sell out back then!

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Yep, well said. I always find it hard to believe that some people can't understand what the world was like back then, or heck, even 100 years before that. Doesn't take a lot of imagination to realize just how different things were in other eras outside of our current one. People have become so spoiled and entitled by technology over the last 20 years and having everything at their fingertips whenever they want. World was a much different place even 25 or 50 years ago.

[@bobma6342]

The only Super Bowl not to sell out was Super Bowl I, and that was because the site wasn't determined until 6 weeks before the game.

[@davidhamburg7868]

Was watching this game on TV. They cut to a break and didn't show any of this. Found out later that he had died of a heart attack. Don't know who these announcers were.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Looks like it was Jack Drees, George Connor, and Bruce Roberts -- www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=teams-season&team_id=DET&year=1971

[@leonardshevlin7260]

My sister was at the game. She was 14.

[@henrybrowne7248]

I remember this. Very early in my long fandom of NFL football, and possibly my favorite era. I was a devout Raiders and Rams fan. The previous season was the first I watched in its entirety and the Raiders were again contending for the playoffs when they visited the Lions for the traditional Thanksgiving Day game which, as always, was a big TV event. I thought the Raiders would win. I was bitterly disappointed and learned what an underrated receiver Chuck Hughes was, as he made some spectacular catches late in the game crucial to the Lions' rather lopsided final score, though for most of the game it was a good game; the crowd really lifted their team. Hughes seemed to be an outstanding receiver and I hated his guts for what he did to my team[an NFL compliment] but had to admire him. I think one of the starters ahead of him was injured. The next season Hughes' death came to me from a news broadcast that day. How tragic . . but lately we find out that he had bad atherosclerosis, which today is the Number One killer of Americans besides auto accidents I think . .

[@danielcorreard3746]

how sad he was only 28 years old.

[@Autshot20]

Chuck Hughes has received more attention in the last two weeks than he did immediately after it happened and since then.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

There was a lot of attention paid at the time.

[@lindamerchant123]

Bears vs. packers at soldier Field or lambeau field great rivalry

[@hanshans8612]

Wonder what NFL did for his family?

[@Stratman78]

The actual CBS telecast does exist (maybe not the entire game), but I do remember seeing the clip where Chuck Hughes didn't get up & died on the field. The NFL Today on CBS showed it in the mid '80's. I think the segment was health injuries. "L'enfant" by Vangelis played in the background.

[@randywatson706]

I remember it. Read it in the paper. I was 12 years old.

[@Harpo.jr70]

My late Father in law was at this game. They lived in Warren Michigan. Life long Detroit fan.

[@lindamerchant123]

Lions vs. Bears classic inter division rivals

[@mattgregory971]

RIP Chuck Hughes. Boy was Greg Landry awful 3 interceptions that’s how I remember him as the Lions Quarterback

[@bobma6342]

He had his moments on both sides of the ledger, much like the team.

[@scootdaws25]

I was listening to this game while working at a local party store. Didn't sound good and found out a few hours later that he had died. This is the first time I've heard this since it happened.

[@denniswood1437]

I remember Butkus being blamed for this tragedy as he put a fierce hit on Hughes earlier in the game. To Butkus's credit, he motioned the referees to call time-out. Sadly, later it was learned that Chuck Hughes a heart condition.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Butkus' huge hit that game was on #88 Charlie Sanders, not Hughes

[@MatthewChristianMurray]

I believe Chuck took a pretty hard hit from somebody (could've been Butkus) on the 32-yard catch the play before. But yeah, Butkus was the one frantically signaling for help; photos don't really do that justice.

[@daniellinehan63]

Mike Lucci, always jealous of Dick, whined and blamed Butkus in the papers the next day.Later writers said that's what has kept Lucci out of the HOF.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

@@MatthewChristianMurray I just found a newspaper article from the day after the game. It states that Hughes was 'sandwiched' by Bob Jeter and Garry Lyle after the 32-yard catch. Article is on page 8 -- news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19711025&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

[@robmclean4352]

Tragically, Hughes wasn't the only pro football player who passed away after a game in Detroit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Hepburn

[@kkappy]

That’s so sad that he died

[@davidstepanczuk]

I watched this game live. I remember Chuck Hughes.

[@ethanmueller7510]

prayers up for hamlin

[@jeromeariganello9874]

I was 10 years old listening to the radio broadcast and hadn't seen any footage until now. I was and still am a huge Lions fan and when I heard on the news later he died, I was traumatized. Thanks for putting this together, very well done. Hopefully this young kid tonight has a full recovery over time

[@alfrednawrocki8061]

I was at this game. Remember it well. SAD day!!

[@edveselskyjr9863]

Remember watching that game, as soon as Hamlin went down, this is where my mind went.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

I watched this game live on CBS with my dad. I was 12. I remember the whole thing. Shortly after Hughes did a face plant and the TV crews realized what was happening they took the cameras off him. The last thing they showed was Hughes being carried off on a stretcher. His arms kept dangling off and they kept flipping his arms back across his chest. Much more video still exists (somewhere)

[@freethinkerrr2897]

The video quality here for the era is pretty good

[@paulhudson4254]

R.I.P., you can tell it was years ago, the Bears were good! 🏈🤠🏈

[@edmondpeschke7063]

I wouldn't call 6 wins and 8 losses good unless I was a lion fan.

[@mackydog99]

Sad as it is, thank you for posting this. I went into the military Nov '70 and did not see a football game until sometime in late '73. Been a Packers fan all my life. I vaguely remember hearing about this but not until the Packers and lions played in either '73 or '74. Sad, but I suppose he died doing what he loved. Back then however, it was more of a job..........guys just didn't get paid a lot to get killed out there.

[@bobma6342]

He died doing what he loved is exactly what bhis wife said. You went into the military in November, 1970, eh? Thank you for your service! Were you in when Tom Dempsey kicked his 63-yard field goal (November 8, 1970)?

[@mackydog99]

No, I remember Dempsey's kick very well. I signed my life away 19 Nov '70. I also remember the whiners that thought it was cheating because of the specialized shoe that he wore...........christ all mighty, he had a half of a foot!

[@jeffbacon5174]

The only death in the NFL ever. That's pretty good statistics. Sucks bad though.

[@s.l.nicholson4240]

I was 13 and 1971 was my 1st year watching football.

[@joeseddit]

Seems like before they signed off the broadcast they already knew he was dead and told us. I saw a highlight clip of this game on another channel and they said he died two hours later. I was so young at the time I can't really trust my memory, but it seems to me that shortly after or at the very end of the game I knew he was dead. I don't recall finding out two hours later, that evening or the next day.

[@ThatLeopardMain]

Swag dog approves

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

I thought I remember seeing that Butkus hit on the previous play in so many of his highlights. Thats the same one where this man died? Wow.

[@cashstore1]

I was listening to the game on the radio as I was driving up North to Mio Michigan. I remember when Chuck went down.

[@docnoc66]

I remember that game - I was 11 and I met people who were there in Detroit

[@billye9127]

No truth here. he had a congentital heart problem. died on the field of severe blockage that compromised his heart. nothing like the recent event in Cinn

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I haven't necessarily heard that he died during the game. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:34pm that day, and the game began at 2pm. Seems the game was probably over for maybe an hour perhaps before he finally expired.

[@edbears5725]

@@davevolskysbackdoor5673 You can be quite dead before being declared dead. First responders will still do everything to revive you until the proper authority declares you dead.