NFL’s Chuck Hughes Died After Collapsing On The Field. His Widow Reacts To Damar Hamlin’s Collapse.

Hank BerrienJanuary 4, 2023

The widow of an NFL player who died on the field, was the one to do so. reacted to the terrifying scene in which Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on Monday night in the Bills’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sharon Hughes’ husband Chuck, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, died on October 24, 1971, late in the fourth quarter of the Lions’ game against the Chicago Bears. Sharon Hughes was watching Monday night’s game from her Texas home when she saw Hamlin collapse on the field.

“I was very emotional,” Hughes, 77 said Tuesday.

Just as Sharon Hughes rode to the hospital in an ambulance with her husband after he collapsed on the field, Hamlin’s mother reportedly rode in an ambulance with her son after his collapse.

“Can you imagine how his mother felt?” Hughes stated. “It’s a horrifying feeling, and, well, I just felt so sorry for the whole family last night.”

Brandon Shane Hughes, 53, who was almost 2 years old when his father died, said of Hamlin’s family, “I would be more than happy to speak with them. We certainly understand what they’re going through.”

“What happened to my father in 1971 is the Stone Ages as far as medicine goes compared to today,” He concluded. “Are these young men getting the medical care and screenings that they should?”

Chuck Hughes was a college star at Texas Western College. He was a replacement player for an injured player on the day that he died. Hughes caught a 32-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter as the Lions were trailing 23-23.

Hughes ran back to the huddle three plays later when the Lions’ quarterback Greg Landry dropped a pass by Charlie Sanders in the end zone. Hughes began to have convulsions and collapsed around the 20-yard mark.

Bears Football Hall-of-Fame middle linebacker Dick Butkus frantically alerted the officials and the sideline, prompting the Lions’ and Bears’ doctors and trainers to attempt to save Hughes. He was taken by Henry Ford Hospital and declared dead at 50 minutes.

After Hughes was taken away, the game continued. Later, it was discovered that Hughes had undiagnosed advanced arteriosclerosis. He also died from coronary thrombosis.

Sharon Hughes stated Tuesday that “You can’t blame football. I never did.” She said that Hamlin was the only thing she was thinking about. “He’s alive. Thank goodness.”