Derrick Rose and 10 Athletes Who Were Cut Down in Their Prime

Derrick Rose and 10 Athletes Who Were Cut Down in Their Prime

By Seth Lassen

February 25, 2015

10 Athletes Who Were Cut Down in Their Prime

Derrick Rose injury — Every player dreams of being able to retire on their own terms when they think the time is ready. As unfair as it can be, that isn't always the case. The Chicago Bulls announced late Tuesday that point guard Derrick Rose requires surgery for a torn meniscus in his knee and there is no timetable on his return.

Let's take a look at Rose and 10 other athletes whose career's were cut down in their prime.

Every player dreams of being able to retire on their own terms when they think the time is ready. As unfair as it can be, that isn't always the case. The Chicago Bulls announced late Tuesday that point guard Derrick Rose requires surgery for a torn meniscus in his knee and there is no timetable on his return.

Let's take a look at Rose and 10 other athletes whose career's were cut down in their prime.

10. Sterling Sharpe

Sterling Sharpe

10. Sterling Sharpe

Sterling Sharpe — Former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe was well on his way to the Hall of Fame before a neck injury ended his career after seven incredibly productive seasons. Sharpe averaged 100 catches per healthy season and holds the record for most consecutive games with at least four receptions (34).

Former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe was well on his way to the Hall of Fame before a neck injury ended his career after seven incredibly productive seasons. Sharpe averaged 100 catches per healthy season and holds the record for most consecutive games with at least four receptions (34).

9. Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins

Advertisement

9. Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins — Minnesota Twins legend and World Series hero Kirby Puckett played for 11 seasons with Minnesota. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases. Puckett was forced to retire at the age of 35 due to loss of vision in one eye from a central retinal vein occlusion.

Minnesota Twins legend and World Series hero Kirby Puckett played for 11 seasons with Minnesota. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases. Puckett was forced to retire at the age of 35 due to loss of vision in one eye from a central retinal vein occlusion.

8. Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson

8. Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson — Jackson won the Heisman Trophy while at Auburn in 1985 and went on to play four highly-productive seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders. In 1991, during a playoff game, Jackson was tackled awkwardly and suffered a serious injury to his hip. He had the hip replaced and returned a year later to play baseball, but was never able to play football again.

Jackson won the Heisman Trophy while at Auburn in 1985 and went on to play four highly-productive seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders. In 1991, during a playoff game, Jackson was tackled awkwardly and suffered a serious injury to his hip. He had the hip replaced and returned a year later to play baseball, but was never able to play football again.

7. Michael Irvin

Michael Irvin

7. Michael Irvin

Michael Irvin — The former Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver was one of the most well known players in the game during his 11-year career, due to his ability to make noise on and off the field. During the fifth game of the 1999 season, Irvin was tackled and went head-first into the turf. He was carted off the field on a stretcher as the Philadelphia fans cheered. He sustained a non-life-threatening spinal cord injury.

The former Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver was one of the most well known players in the game during his 11-year career, due to his ability to make noise on and off the field. During the fifth game of the 1999 season, Irvin was tackled and went head-first into the turf. He was carted off the field on a stretcher as the Philadelphia fans cheered. He sustained a non-life-threatening spinal cord injury.

6. Cam Neely

Cam Neely

6. Cam Neely

Cam Neely — Neely played 13 seasons in the NHL for the Boston Bruins but was forced to retire due to a knee injury in 1996. He tried to come back from the injury, but was only able to play in 162 games over the final five years of his career and was never the same player again.

Neely played 13 seasons in the NHL for the Boston Bruins but was forced to retire due to a knee injury in 1996. He tried to come back from the injury, but was only able to play in 162 games over the final five years of his career and was never the same player again.

5. Steve Young

Steve Young

5. Steve Young

Steve Young — Young was 38 years old at the time of his retirement, but was still playing at an extremely high level. One year before he suffered his eighth head injury and called it quits, the 49ers quarterback threw for a career-high 36 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.

Young was 38 years old at the time of his retirement, but was still playing at an extremely high level. One year before he suffered his eighth head injury and called it quits, the 49ers quarterback threw for a career-high 36 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.

4. Marcus Lattimore

Marcus Lattimore

4. Marcus Lattimore

Marcus Lattimore — It’s hard to tell if Lattimore was truly ever in his prime since he never played a single snap in the NFL. Despite several knee injuries and operations, the San Francisco 49ers still drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. When healthy, Lattimore was the best running back in the country while at the University of South Carolina. After his knee failed to ever properly heal, Lattimore retired in 2014.

It’s hard to tell if Lattimore was truly ever in his prime since he never played a single snap in the NFL. Despite several knee injuries and operations, the San Francisco 49ers still drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. When healthy, Lattimore was the best running back in the country while at the University of South Carolina. After his knee failed to ever properly heal, Lattimore retired in 2014.

3. Mike Utley

Mike Utley

3. Mike Utley

Mike Utley — After a very promising start to the first two-plus seasons of his career, former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley’s career was abruptly ended when he suffered an injury to his sixth and seventh vertebrae. Doctors determined Utley had been paralyzed from the chest down, and he has never been able to regain use of his lower extremities.

After a very promising start to the first two-plus seasons of his career, former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley’s career was abruptly ended when he suffered an injury to his sixth and seventh vertebrae. Doctors determined Utley had been paralyzed from the chest down, and he has never been able to regain use of his lower extremities.

2. Doc Powers

Doc Powers

2. Doc Powers

Doc Powers — You’ve got to go way back, but the story of Doc Powers is certainly the most extreme on this list. A catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in the early 1900s, Powers chased a foul ball and smashed into a wall. He was rushed to the hospital shortly after the game and had to have three intestinal surgeries. Two weeks later, he died from internal bleeding.

You’ve got to go way back, but the story of Doc Powers is certainly the most extreme on this list. A catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in the early 1900s, Powers chased a foul ball and smashed into a wall. He was rushed to the hospital shortly after the game and had to have three intestinal surgeries. Two weeks later, he died from internal bleeding.

1. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose

1. Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose — Rose’s latest injury is simply depressing. After tearing the ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season. He rehabbed, only to have his following season cut short after only 10 games. Rose was starting to resemble his old self as this season progressed, but the Bulls announced Tuesday that he has a torn meniscus in the same knee and there is no timetable on his return.

Rose’s latest injury is simply depressing. After tearing the ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, Rose missed the entire 2012-13 season. He rehabbed, only to have his following season cut short after only 10 games. Rose was starting to resemble his old self as this season progressed, but the Bulls announced Tuesday that he has a torn meniscus in the same knee and there is no timetable on his return.

Share On Facebook

Share