Hughes was a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions. He was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Texas, his father having died when he was 6 years old and his mother dying when he was 15, he ended up living with his older brother Tim and attending Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas. He was unable to play high school football his senior year because he turned 19 before the start of the season. After graduation, his high school coach got him a tryout at Texas Western (now known as Texas-El Paso) and Hughes earned a scholarship. At Texas Western he was known as the "Abilene Whippet" for his speed and set several school and one national record while attending the school. He was a 2006 inductee into the UTEP athletic Hall-of-Fame. In 1967 he was a fourth round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles and spent 3 years with them as a reserve before being acquired by the Detroit Lions before the 1970 season.
In a game against the Chicago Bears on October 24, 1971, the Lions trailed the Bears 28-23 in the 4th quarter. The Lions had the ball and were running a hurry up offense, Hughes entered the game and ran a deep route down the middle on a play that was an incomplete pass to Lion's tight end Charlie Sanders. Heading back to the huddle, Hughes clutched his chest and collapsed. The Bear's Dick Butkus reached him first and frantically signaled the Lions bench for help. Lion's team doctor Richard Thompson reached the fallen player and tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late, Chuck Hughes was dead at the age of 28 from a heart attack. He left behind his wife, Sharon and 2 year old son Brandon. He is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.
In the 80+ year history of the NFL, he is still the only player to die on the field during a game.
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I never knew a player had died during a game.
Originally Posted by Shamrocker99
