Reggie Brown, a former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, recently opened up about one of the most traumatic experiences of his life: the day he witnessed the fatal collapse of his teammate, Chuck Hughes, during a game in 1971. The tragic incident, which occurred on October 24, 1971, has haunted Brown ever since, marking a dark chapter in NFL history. Hughes, a talented receiver, collapsed on the field in the middle of a game against the Chicago Bears, ultimately dying from a heart attack, making him the only player in NFL history to die during a game.

Brown, who was a teammate of Hughes at the time, recalled the harrowing moment when Hughes suddenly fell to the ground. “He’s not breathing,” Brown said, recalling his reaction as he rushed to his friend’s side. The players and coaching staff had no idea what was happening at first, and the situation quickly turned into a frantic, life-or-death battle. What made the scene even more surreal was that the game continued for several minutes after Hughes collapsed, with players unaware of the severity of the situation. It wasn’t until it became clear that Hughes wasn’t getting up that the realization dawned on everyone: something was terribly wrong.

Chuck Hughes had been an but capable player for the Lion unassumings. He had been with the team since 197