Injuries that changed the course of a franchise

[7DnBrnc53]

John Elway's injury in 1992 against the Giants made me think of doing this thread.

That injury led to the Broncos missing the playoffs, and Reeves getting fired. As a result, they eventually got Shanny, as HC, and the Broncos (and Elway) won two SB's.

If the Broncos made the playoffs, Reeves' contract would have been extended (Bowlen has said that), and Elway probably goes somewhere else. I don't see Reeves and Tommy Maddox winning a SB, and maybe Elway never wins one, either (depends on where he goes).

[Gary Najman]

1999 Rams: Trent Green got injured in the preseason and Dick Vermeil says that they will play “good Football” with Kurt Warner. Surely they did!

[Oszuscik]

Great thread. How about Drew Bledsoe getting hurt in 2001 and some 6th round pick from Michigan coming in to replace him?

[7DnBrnc53]

Greg Cook's rotator cuff tear in 1969. The Bengals had some success in the coming years, but not the success that they probably would have had with Cook in tow. And, if they are more successful with Greg, maybe Brown turns it over to Walsh in 1976 instead of Tiger Johnson.

[JuggernautJ]

Great thread. How about Drew Bledsoe getting hurt in 2001 and some 6th round pick from Michigan coming in to replace him?

Likewise, Don Majkowski's injury (tho his time was probably limited anyway) in 1992 that led to a certain #4's record string of 297 consecutive starts.

[rhickok1109]

Bert Jones' shoulder injury in 1978. The Colts went 31-11 in the three previous seasons and won three straight divisional championships. After his injury, they had two consecutive last-place finishes (although they went 5-2 in the games that Jones did manage to start in those two seasons). After he came back in 1980, he was obviously not the same.

[Citizen]

Likewise, Don Majkowski's injury (tho his time was probably limited anyway) in 1992 that led to a certain #4's record string of 297 consecutive starts.

Even if Majkowski had played acceptably with his shredded shoulder, Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren had little to lose and lots to gain by getting Favre on the field. Majik's ankle injury only expedited the process.

Similarly, Bledsoe was in the process of writing his ticket out of town before Hugh Douglas broke him in two.

The common theme is that these injuries turned out to be blessings in disguise.

[sluggermatt15]

The Steelers were 6-10 in 2003. Second game of 2004, Tommy Maddox gets hurt. Enter Ben Roethlisberger. The rest is history.

Also, the NOLA Saints signing Drew Brees away from the Chargers in free agency. The Saints have had their best run in franchise history since.

[Jay Z]

Bert Jones' shoulder injury in 1978. The Colts went 31-11 in the three previous seasons and won three straight divisional championships. After his injury, they had two consecutive last-place finishes (although they went 5-2 in the games that Jones did manage to start in those two seasons). After he came back in 1980, he was obviously not the same.

Considering the overall state of the organization, I doubt that even a healthy Jones ever gets that Colts team more than another first round playoff loss or so. Jones' overall health effect on his own career is another matter.

[BD Sullivan]

The Steelers were 6-10 in 2003. Second game of 2004, Tommy Maddox gets hurt. Enter Ben Roethlisberger. The rest is history.

Roethlisberger was their first-round pick that year (11th overall), so Maddox was presumably seen as a caretaker anyway by Cowher.

Pastorini breaks his leg in 1980; enter Jim Plunkett.