SHOCKING NEWS: “He’s not breathing”. The legendary former Lion remembers that awful day…
This month twenty years ago, football fans watched in horror as Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown was rendered unconscious, paralysed, unable to breathe, and on the verge of death following a devastating spinal cord injury sustained during a game. Currently residing in Houston with his spouse and two sons, Brown talked recently about that terrible December day, the events that transpired in the hours, days, weeks, and years that followed, and how he still finds pleasure in watching the game that nearly ended his life.
The last quarter of the Detroit Lions’ regular-season finale versus the New York Jets set the stage for an incredible conclusion to the team’s 1997 campaign. More than 75,000 people packed into Pontiac Silverdome, roaring with excitement as the Lions held onto a 13-10 lead, one game away from triumph and a postseason spot. The fact that running back Barry Sanders, who had only accomplished this accomplishment twice previously, was yards away from surpassing the 2,000-yard rushing mark for the season, added to the mystery.
Then, with one play remaining in the game, catastrophe struck. In a matter of seconds, the dream turned into a nightmare.
It looked like a typical running play until Texas A&M second-year linebacker Reggie Brown, who had started all 16 games, lunged in to tackle Jets running back Adrian Murrell. Replays showed Brown putting his arms around a diving Murrell and colliding with falling Jets lineman Lamont Burns’ back with the top of his helmet.
“It was pretty standard,” Brown stated sarcastically. “I just saw the running back get the ball, and I immediately launched myself into a full sprint to make the tackle, just like I have thousands of times before.” Subsequently, I sensed an unexpected pressure near the crown of my skull. I recall landing on my back after falling.
“We stopped him. Come on. Get up!” Brown said he remembers fellow Lions linebacker Antonio London telling him as he stared up at the Pontiac Silverdome roof.
Brown was unable to stand up and join his teammates in the huddle, despite his strong desire to do so. His body was completely out of control. Nothing changed. He was immobilised. It was terrible, this immobility, and then things went really, really bad. He was having trouble breathing.
It’s like I’m struggling to catch my breath. Antonio hears me wheezing. I am immobile. I still recall his response to me and his request that people approach me so they could assist me. After a short while, everything turns dark.
Furiously, London informed Lions head trainer Kent Falb, “He’s not breathing,” after Falb had hurried to the centre of the field, close to the 30-yard line, where Brown lay still on the synthetic surface. London let out a terrified cry, “Don’t let him die.”
Terry Locke, the team medic, positioned himself on one side of Brown while the veteran trainer crouched on the ground beside him.
Falb recalled, “Our team physician realised that something was terribly wrong.” “He said we need to begin CPR right away. He is not breathing. While I steadied his head, Dr. Locke began CPR. There was pandemonium.
Falb stated that based on preliminary observations of Brown’s condition, doctors believed it was related to the spinal cord because he was not breathing, but his heart was still pumping. Two Lions players raced down to the end zone at the other end of the field, where they seized the stretcher and alerted the emergency medical technicians to the serious situation as Detroit’s medical personnel laboured hard to stabilise the unconscious player.
The audience at Silverdome became strangely silent. Both teams’ players gathered around Brown. A few athletes bent down. A few said prayers. A few sobbed.
Viewers of the nationwide broadcast responded in a similar state of shocked amazement. The announcers did their best to convey a highly hectic scenario without losing their cool. Notwithstanding their well chosen comments, it was evident how serious the situation was on the pitch when Brown was being given CPR and an IV bag was raised above him.
The medical personnel loaded Brown into the back of the ambulance after nearly fifteen minutes, first placing him on a stretcher and then a backboard. The audience applauded solemnly. Shocked, Falb went back to the sidelines.
