Top 5 Hardest Hits in Football in NFL History

Tackling is an integral part of football. In the NFL, this is especially true, although there are different precautions set in place to prevent dirty play and mitigate unnecessary player injuries. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, this can’t be avoided, leading to crushing hits that send players to the floor.

In this article, we’ll dive into five of the hardest hits we’ve ever seen in NFL history, including what teams were involved, what player got clobbered, and how it impacted the rest of the game.

5. Patrick Wills on Ben Smith: (New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers)

Hitting off this brutal list of hardest hits in the NFL (most of which are subjective) was one of the highest impact hits seen in football in a game between the NY Jets and San Fran 49ers. With the game at 14-24 in favor of the 49ers with just over 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter, Jets WR Ben Smith caught a low toss before turning and carrying the ball for 3 steps as he was met by a crunching tackle from 49ers Patrick Willis, causing Smith to black out on his knees bending backward.

Smith would get up 5 to 10 seconds later, seemingly shaking off the hard hit before kneeling to the ground, completely unwell, allowing medical staff to come on the field.

4. Rodney McLeod Jr on Emmanuel Sanders: (Denver Broncos vs. St. Louis Rams)

As a 30+ yard toss gets lobbed into WR Emmanuel Sanders of the Denver Broncos, Sanders would completely keep his eye on the ball overhead as it arcs downwards into his running path. All the while, Rams McLeod Jr. would not only interfere with the pass but come in hot and lay out the unaware Sanders looking in a different direction.

The result would be a flag on the play, with Sanders still laid out, barely conscious on the turf before medical staff sprinted onto the field to help, all while the game sat at 7-13 in favor of the Rams with over 13 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

3. Malcolm Jenkins on Brandin Cooks: (Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots)

In this classic Eagles vs. Patriots showdown, Brandin Cooks of the Pats would be the victim of a vicious hit from Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles. With the game at 9-3 to the Eagles with over 13 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Brady would huck a perfect 20+ yarder to Brandin Cooks, who’d gain several yards before being surrounded by 3 different Eagles players, with one of them, Malcolm Jenkins, coming in extremely rough from behind, laying out Cooks to the floor completely unconscious.

Cooks would be rolled onto his back as medical staff proceeded to help, although unfortunate for Cooks, this wouldn’t be the only concussion-inducing hit suffered in his career.

2. Tedric Thompson on Brandin Cooks: (Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks)

Poor Brandin Cooks would once again be the victim of one of the hardest hits ever seen in the NFL, but this time, he’d be playing for the LA Rams against the Seahawks with the game tied at 17-17 with just under 2 minutes left in the 2nd.

Jared Goff hooks a straight 1st down-bound pass to Brandin Cooks, who while once again surrounded by 3 players on the Seahawks, would be laid out by Tedric Thompson with a clear helmet-to-helmet tackle. Along with a flag on the play, Cooks would find himself sprawled out on the turf, completely blacked out before medic staff came on to help.

1. Daryl Smith on Austin Collie: (Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Lastly, we have a horrendous hit to wrap up the list of hardest hits in NFL history coming in a game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indiana Colts. Austin Collie of the Colts would receive a tough, driven catch past 1st down at the opposing 20-yard line right as he gets crunched by Jaguars defender Daryl Smith, and right after coming back from a concussion injury.

Collie’s head would snap against the incoming force of Smith, leaving him unconscious on the field before medical staff raced on to help. This was one of four concussions Collie would receive in his career before sadly retiring due to his consistent injuries.