Sports
Chuck Hughes
1943–1971 · American football wide receiver
Lions receiver who collapsed and died on the field at Tiger Stadium in 1971, the only NFL player to die during a game; the Lions retired his No. 85.
- Born
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 28- Birth name
- Charles Frederick Hughes
- Detroit years
- 1970–1971
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Hughes, a Philadelphia native who grew up in Texas and starred at Texas Western, spent three seasons with the Eagles before a trade brought him to Detroit in 1970. On October 24, 1971, the Lions hosted the Chicago Bears at Tiger Stadium. Late in the fourth quarter, with Detroit trailing 28–23, Hughes came in as an injury replacement and caught a 32-yard pass from Greg Landry. A few plays later, running back to the huddle, he collapsed on the field. Doctors could not revive him; he had suffered a heart attack caused by severe, undiagnosed arteriosclerosis, and he was 28. The game was finished in stunned silence. All forty of his Lions teammates and head coach Joe Schmidt traveled to his funeral in San Antonio. The Lions retired his No. 85, and the league later tightened player medical screening.
Highlights
- Only NFL player to die on the field during a game (October 24, 1971)
- Caught a 32-yard pass on his final play from scrimmage
- No. 85 retired by the Lions
- Played for the Lions 1970–1971
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Related place · 1970–1971
Tiger Stadium (site)
Demolished · 1912–1999
Where he collapsed and died during the Lions–Bears game of October 24, 1971; demolished in 2008–2009.